Hein, with fire officials and two kids who will benefit from the special alarms
KINGSTON – Smoke alarms are among the most important items in one’s home, but what do family members with hearing impairments do if a conventional alarm sounds?
In Ulster County, they may now secure special devices to warn hearing impaired children in a program devised by County Executive Michael Hein.
“In conjunction with the New York Fire Chiefs Association we have come together and make available for everyone at no cost these specialized smoke detectors that have multiple components in them including one that will shake to make sure the child wakes up at night and find himself in a situation because of their hearing loss they don’t hear traditional smoke detectors,” Hein said.
Anyone who needs one is being made available by the county at no cost.
Tammy Schaeffer of Highland, a mom of two children who are legally deaf and rely on their cochlear implants, but do not wear them at night, received two of the Silent Call smoke detector systems. “Now, I am comforted that in case of a fire my children have smoke detectors that can alert them to the danger,” Schaeffer said.
