Bend insurance agent donates special smoke alarms

Smoke alarms save lives … but what if you can’t hear the sound of a smoke alarm? Over 28 million Americans have some form of hearing loss (www.ncra.org).

For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, a traditional smoke alarm may be useless. An individual with hearing loss needs assistive technology to receive the life-saving early warning that smoke alarms provide. Fortunately, the available smoke alarms for the hearing-impaired typically use low-frequency audible warnings, flashing strobe lights, or tactile “bed shaker” devices. The most effective alarms use two or more alerting mechanisms together.

The challenges with this type of technology include high cost and no legal requirement for landlords to provide or install them. Although places of public accommodation, such as hotels and motels, must make alarms available for guests who are deaf and hard of hearing, they are not required in rental dwellings such as apartments or duplexes. In addition, a single alarm typically costs approximately $200.

In 2005, Bend Fire & Rescue identified the need to provide alarms to community members who are deaf or hard of hearing and cannot afford the high cost of these alarms. Through the generosity of Gentex, the initial program was able to provide strobe alarms at no cost. As technology evolved, so did the program, and combination low frequency/tactile alarms were provided until early 2016, when funding ran out.

Recently, local Farmers Insurance agent Scott Robson stepped up to help Bend Fire & Rescue continue the program, donating 2 low frequency/tactile alarms per month! Thanks to his generosity, alarms are once again available to provide the life-saving early warning of a smoke alarm to community members who are deaf or hard of hearing. Please contact Bend Fire and Rescue at 541-322-6300 for more information about this program. Thank you, Scott Robson!