Free Smoke Alarms, Fire Safety Workshop for Deaf New Yorkers

Whether caused by candles left unattended or an electrical wiring short, the alarm of a smoke detector means nothing if it isn’t heard. Use of an operable smoke alarm will reduce the chances of dying in a fire by nearly half, but according to the U.S. Fire Administration, 11 million deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans are unable to rely on the life-saving warning sound of a working smoke alarm to alert them to a fire.

In an initiative to close the gap on this risk, the FDNY is teaming up with Lexington Vocational Services Center, part of the largest organization serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in New York State, to offer a FREE public workshop on Fire Safety Education for hearing impaired New Yorkers. Participants will not only learn how to protect themselves in a fire, they will also receive free fire alarms specially designed for people with hearing deficits, courtesy of the FDNY Foundation. Lexington will provide an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for the event.

The workshop will be held Wednesday, February 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Lexington, located at the corner of 30th Avenue and 75th Street in Jackson Heights, Queens. Up to 150 participants will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. Register by email to firesafety@lexnyc.org before February 10.

"Basic fire safety education and access to the newest safety technology is critically important for the deaf community, as decreased hearing may limit a person’s ability to take quick action during a fire emergency,” said Laura Squassoni, Chief Inspector, Fire & Life Safety, who will conduct the workshop. "As someone who is profoundly deaf in my left ear, being a part of this initiative is extremely rewarding for me. I truly understand how crucial it is that deaf New Yorkers are taking proper safety precautions, including the use of appropriate fire alarms.”

Workshop participants will receive the Lifetone HL™ Bedside Fire Alarm and Clock, a patented device that combines a high frequency alarm, a visual signal and a physical vibration via a bed shaker to alert deaf individuals in the event of a fire emergency.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about two thirds of residential fire deaths occur in homes without fire alarms or without operable smoke alarms. The presence of a working fire alarm that can be heard is essential for saving lives.

"We thank the FDNY, the FDNY Foundation and Inspector Squassoni for their time, their expertise and their donation of life-saving fire alarms to ensure that the deaf community has the knowledge and equipment needed to stay safe in a fire emergency,” said Adele I. Agin, LCSW, Executive Director of the Lexington Vocational Services Center. For more information, call Lexington’s video phone at (917) 832-1682.