Miss-Delectable
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She Helps Promote Safety Instead Of Silence
Imagine there is a fire in your house. Your smoke alarm is going off, but you can't hear its piercing wail.
That's the nightmare many deaf and hard of hearing people face, but Frederick resident Peggy Webb is trying to make sure that doesn't happen.
Webb is one of about 20 members of the Fire and Burn Safety Coalition of Maryland, which provides specialized smoke alarms to the deaf and hard of hearing for no charge.
Instead of emitting sound, the visual smoke alarms radiate a powerful strobe of light when they detect smoke in an area.
The group's goal is to give deaf and hard of hearing people a feeling of security while they sleep at night, she said.
Along with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Webb helped found the coalition in 1998. It works to raise awareness throughout the state that the alarms are available.
Webb's work is strictly volunteer and one person recently told her she has a passion for it.
"It has become an obsession," she said.
Webb, 74, first became involved in fire and rescue services at a young age. Her father was a charter member of the Hyattstown Volunteer Fire Department.
She estimates she has close to 60 years of service to the department and serves as secretary and auxiliary president.
"Fire service has always been apart of my life," she said.
Her brother also went into fire service and was involved with helping to form the Urbana Volunteer Fire Company.
When her brother and father helped to put out fires, Webb would worry about their safety, so she decided to try to stop fires completely by educating people on prevention.
She became involved at the state level and now works in the Maryland State Firemen's Association legislative office in Annapolis as the administrative office manager.
Webb helps produce the association's legislative bulletin, which is sent to about 220 first responders. It discusses what legislation is set to come before the General Assembly regarding public safety, Webb said.
While she spends time in Annapolis, she said at least 10 hours each week is devoted to the visual smoke alarm program.
The group accepts donations to offset the cost of the alarms, which retail for $148 each. The group purchases them at a special rate for about half the price.
Once people get their alarms installed, some send in donations and others send messages of appreciation for their new alarm.
"It's very rewarding," Webb said, "that they care."
Imagine there is a fire in your house. Your smoke alarm is going off, but you can't hear its piercing wail.
That's the nightmare many deaf and hard of hearing people face, but Frederick resident Peggy Webb is trying to make sure that doesn't happen.
Webb is one of about 20 members of the Fire and Burn Safety Coalition of Maryland, which provides specialized smoke alarms to the deaf and hard of hearing for no charge.
Instead of emitting sound, the visual smoke alarms radiate a powerful strobe of light when they detect smoke in an area.
The group's goal is to give deaf and hard of hearing people a feeling of security while they sleep at night, she said.
Along with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Webb helped found the coalition in 1998. It works to raise awareness throughout the state that the alarms are available.
Webb's work is strictly volunteer and one person recently told her she has a passion for it.
"It has become an obsession," she said.
Webb, 74, first became involved in fire and rescue services at a young age. Her father was a charter member of the Hyattstown Volunteer Fire Department.
She estimates she has close to 60 years of service to the department and serves as secretary and auxiliary president.
"Fire service has always been apart of my life," she said.
Her brother also went into fire service and was involved with helping to form the Urbana Volunteer Fire Company.
When her brother and father helped to put out fires, Webb would worry about their safety, so she decided to try to stop fires completely by educating people on prevention.
She became involved at the state level and now works in the Maryland State Firemen's Association legislative office in Annapolis as the administrative office manager.
Webb helps produce the association's legislative bulletin, which is sent to about 220 first responders. It discusses what legislation is set to come before the General Assembly regarding public safety, Webb said.
While she spends time in Annapolis, she said at least 10 hours each week is devoted to the visual smoke alarm program.
The group accepts donations to offset the cost of the alarms, which retail for $148 each. The group purchases them at a special rate for about half the price.
Once people get their alarms installed, some send in donations and others send messages of appreciation for their new alarm.
"It's very rewarding," Webb said, "that they care."