The Western Morning News
TORQUAY, Englan — A new scheme to help firefighters communicate quickly with people with hearing problems has been launched in Torquay.
Special “flash cards” are being issued to local fire crews which will help them gain immediate and vital information from blaze victims with deafness problems.
The unveiling of the scheme at the Newton Road station coincides with Deaf Awareness Week.
From now on all fire appliances in Torbay will carry cards which have vital questions translated into a number of formats, including sign language and symbols.
The cards illustrate questions such as “where is the fire?” and “is there anyone inside the building?” to enable firefighters to obtain critical information when they arrive at the scene of an emergency.
Firefighter Matt Hallett, of Torquay’s Green Watch, and his colleagues came up with the idea after experiencing difficulties communicating with a deaf person during a home safety visit.
Matt said: “Immediately after the visit we thought ‘what if this had happened in an emergency situation?’ “We have to be able to communicate with people quickly and these cards will allow us to ask information from a number of different sections of the community, including people who do not speak English.”
The firefighters developed six to eight critical questions with Mayfield School in Torquay using their specialist software to translate the words into symbols on the A4 cards.
Fire chiefs said the facility could be developed across the Devon and Somerset brigade area if the pilot scheme is successful.
Other agencies have also shown an interest. The scheme will also trial in Plymouth.
Group manager Tony Heywood said: “This is an excellent initiative.”
Copyright 2011 Western Morning News (Plymouth)
All Rights Reserved