Lifesaving advice at roadshow for deaf people in Ellesmere Port

DEAF people from Ellesmere Port and Neston can learn about protecting their homes from fire at a roadshow rolling into town next week writes  Laurie Stocks-Moore for Ellesmere Port Pioneer (01/02/12).

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Deafness Support Network are running a series of events across the county to provide potentially life-saving advice to people with hearing loss.

The service’s hi-tech community roadshow vehicle will next be stationed outside Ellesmere Port Market from 10-3pm on Thursday, February 9.
The roadshow is co-ordinated by Melanie Pitts, deaf persons advocate.

She said: “It can be much harder for someone with hearing loss to be alerted to a fire so we’re working hard to reduce the risk of fire in their homes.
“Visitors to our roadshow will be able find out about the specialist support available to them to make their homes safer, look at equipment designed to alert them to a fire and use the on-board computer terminals to complete an online home safety assessment. There will also be lots of information about how the Deafness Support Network can help.”
A British Sign Language interpreter will be on hand to help and information cards will be available showing the signs and signals that can be used to communicate with a deaf person in an emergency.

The roadshow team can provide details of the service’s SMS emergency alert system and education events planned for children of deaf people.
For details, visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk and click on the ‘partnerships’ link on the homepage or visit the Deafness Support Network website www.dsonline.co.uk.