Sensory smoke alarm fitted by fire service saves women’s life in Rochford

An Essex resident recently escaped a potential disaster all thanks to sensory smoke alarms fitted by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS).

Mrs E. was initially referred to the fire service by Community Agent Marion Buffett following concerns that she would not be able to hear a regular smoke alarm as she is hard of hearing and family members were not confident she would be able to hear her existing standard smoke alarms.

ECFRS Home Safety Officer Peter Glover conducted a thorough home safety visit at her home and installed sensory smoke alarms designed to flash and vibrate in the event of a fire.

The sensory smoke alarm was put to the test just weeks later when Mrs E. put a wheat bag in her microwave on full and fell asleep. She was woken by her smoke alarms and she discovered her kitchen was filling with smoke. Undoubtedly, it is thanks to her sensory smoke alarm that disaster was averted and she was alerted to the emerging danger.

Expressing gratitude for the fire service’s swift referral service, Community Agent Marion Buffett said:

“I made a referral for Mrs E. who is very hard of hearing and the timing couldn’t have been better. Mrs E's daughter then contacted me and said that your smoke alarms probably saved her life this week. Mrs E. put an item into the microwave on the full length setting and fell asleep. She woke up to the smoke alarm and stopped it just in time. 

“Mrs E.'s daughter is convinced that if the sensory smoke alarms had not been put in, it would be a different story. They are both so grateful. So a very big thank you for your continued support for the wellbeing of my clients and the community.”

Claire Monk, Live Safe Manager at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said:

“We understand that many of our residents might not be able to hear a regular smoke alarm. Essex has one of the highest numbers of sensory impaired communities across the country and it’s important that we recognise that standard smoke alarms might not be suitable for everyone.

“For people with reduced hearing ability, it would be harder for them to be alerted by just an audible smoke alarm on its own. A sensory smoke alarm is fitted to the ceiling in the same way as a regular smoke alarm but is also wirelessly linked to additional devices which use high-intensity flashing strobe light and/or vibrate to alert the resident.

"Incidents like this show just how important it is that every home has working smoke alarms which meet the needs of the residents.".

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service provide and fit specialist sensory alarms completely free of charge for anyone with a sensory impairment living in Essex. Book a home safety visit or refer someone else for a home safety visit online here: www.essex-fire.gov.uk/book