Miss-Delectable
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Smoke Detectors for Hearing Impaired
Some hearing-impaired families in Lycoming County will be better protected should a fire break out in their home. They received special smoke detectors on Monday.
Four families received special smoke detectors from the Williamsport bureau of fire. They are designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The unit includes a traditional high pitched beeping alarm, but also has a flashing strobe light and a small vibrating disc that, when placed in a bed, should wake a person sleeping there.
Robin Dawson's son Benjamin can hear some lower frequencies but has trouble hearing the higher ones. Robin said she's thrilled her family was picked to get the alarm.
"When you have kids and you know that they cannot hear the smoke alarm in the event of a fire, that's a scary feeling. We were looking at other avenues but they were very expensive."
The systems are more expensive than a regular smoke detector, which is about $7 to $10. If you were to purchase one of the special units, it would cost about $300.
"It's not just a smoke detector anymore. Smoke detectors are very important but this is something that the kids can use. The unit can be used for multiple purposes," said fire inspector Tom Swigart.
The devices can be synced up with phones or doorbells to make it easier for the hearing impaired to be aware of what's going on in their home.
Community groups and the bureau of fire donated money to buy the detectors but organizers told Newswatch 16 they are in need of additional donors for the 40 families still on the waiting list in that area.
Some hearing-impaired families in Lycoming County will be better protected should a fire break out in their home. They received special smoke detectors on Monday.
Four families received special smoke detectors from the Williamsport bureau of fire. They are designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The unit includes a traditional high pitched beeping alarm, but also has a flashing strobe light and a small vibrating disc that, when placed in a bed, should wake a person sleeping there.
Robin Dawson's son Benjamin can hear some lower frequencies but has trouble hearing the higher ones. Robin said she's thrilled her family was picked to get the alarm.
"When you have kids and you know that they cannot hear the smoke alarm in the event of a fire, that's a scary feeling. We were looking at other avenues but they were very expensive."
The systems are more expensive than a regular smoke detector, which is about $7 to $10. If you were to purchase one of the special units, it would cost about $300.
"It's not just a smoke detector anymore. Smoke detectors are very important but this is something that the kids can use. The unit can be used for multiple purposes," said fire inspector Tom Swigart.
The devices can be synced up with phones or doorbells to make it easier for the hearing impaired to be aware of what's going on in their home.
Community groups and the bureau of fire donated money to buy the detectors but organizers told Newswatch 16 they are in need of additional donors for the 40 families still on the waiting list in that area.