Fire safety officers in Norfolk have taken a sign language course to help them install life-saving smoke alarms for the deaf.
Officers learnt about deaf etiquette and communicating with people with hearing difficulties to make householders feel at ease when they assess home fire safety and fit smoke detectors.
The bespoke 10-week course was written by staff at Great Yarmouth College after fire officers enquired about enrolling on a standard British Sign Language course.
College staff suggested a shorter purpose-written course focusing on fire safety vocabulary might be more appropriate and effective.
Tutor Clare Parker took away the fire safety booklet that risk assessors used in the homes of the deaf to assess the need for special vibrating and flashing light fire alarms. She wrote a tailor-made course covering exactly the language officers would need to go through the necessary questions and explain the alarm workings.
The course - devised through Great Yarmouth College’s Futures programme - was delivered at Great Yarmouth Fire Station and now other fire districts across the county are looking to follow the Yarmouth model.
Richard Rockcliffe, Cabinet Member for Fire and Community Protection, said: "This is an excellent initiative which I fully endorse. Anything which helps our fire and rescue service spread their safety messages and help make people safer is to be welcomed."
Brian Walshe, Local Risk Manager for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said the bespoke course was perfect to equip officers with the social and language skills they needed.
“It is essential our assessors know how to communicate effectively with people who cannot hear. Also, there is all sorts of etiquette when speaking to deaf people that we might not necessarily understand. For example, we might think it is rude to point but it is a crucial method of communication for people who cannot hear.”
“It made sense to have a course dealing specifically with fire safety so we gave the teacher our fire safety books and they were converted into sign. The teacher is deaf herself and has had an alarm fitted so knows what the officers need. The course is all about inclusion so nobody in the community is left out of our service and work."
So far eight officers have undergone training.
Futures coordinator at Great Yarmouth College Sandra Peck said the bespoke course was one example of the college’s flexibility, willingness and commitment to deliver the courses employers needed for their workforce.
“We are always open to design bespoke courses for employers and organisations to fit their needs. This has worked so well and we are hoping to do more. We have the expertise here in so many areas to help deliver more focused courses.”
Fire fighters in Great Yarmouth have also shown their commitment to inclusion within their community by learning Portuguese to help communicate with the growing Portuguese community in the borough.
*The fire service will provide and install smoke alarms free to people with hearing difficulties within Norfolk. For further information contact 0800 9178137.
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