Fire Safety for People with Disabilities

There’s no place like home. It is a place to relax, share laughs with family, and enjoy home cooked meals. But did you know that the majority of fire deaths occur in the home? It is important to help everyone in the home stay safe from fire.

• Home fire sprinklers can contain and may even put out a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive. In choosing an apartment or purchasing a home, look for a residence that has home fire sprinklers.
• Test your smoke alarm at least once a month by pushing the test button. If you can’t reach the alarm, consider getting alarms that you can test with a flashlight or a television remote. 
• For added safety, interconnect all the smoke alarms so that when one sounds they all sound. This gives everyone more time to escape.
• Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. They can be helpful for people who have difficulty changing batteries.
• Smoke alarms and alert devices, called accessories, are available for people who are deaf. Strobe lights throughout the home are activated by smoke alarms and alert people who are deaf to fire conditions. When people who are deaf are asleep, a high intensity strobe light is required along with a pillow or bed shaker to wake them up and alert them to fire conditions.
• Accessories are also available for people who are hard of hearing.  These accessories produce a loud, mixed low-pitched sound. This equipment is activated by the sound of the smoke alarm and is usually installed next to the bed. People who are deaf may find that a pillow or bed shaker is also helpful to wake them.
• Include everyone in planning and practicing home fire drills. People with disabilities can provide input on the best methods for them to escape.
• Keep a phone by your bed for emergency calls in case you become trapped and are unable to escape.
• If you live in an apartment, meet with your building manager. Request a copy of the building evacuation procedures. Ask about the emergency evacuation drills and insist on being included. Learn the accommodations that have been made to meet your needs for evacuation assistance.
• Contact your local fire department about concerns for your safe evacuation. Ask them about the search and rescue procedures for your building.
• Develop relationships with neighbors, who can be trusted to be “buddies” in the event you need assistance with evacuation, but be sure to have multiple back-up plans in case the buddy isn’t available at the time of the emergency.
• Learn the location of the exit stairwells and all routes out of the building. Know the number of doors between your apartment and the nearest exits.