Fire Safety Solutions Facts

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Will you wake up if your smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night after you have removed your hearing aids?

Solutions 2011 Smoke Alarm Project has an answer. The Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT) has received a $277,550 grant from the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  OkAT is a partner with Oklahoma ABLE Tech and Fire Protection Publications at OSU to implement Solutions 2011.  Oklahoma ABLE Tech is a federally funded program to assist persons with disabilities to increase access to, provision of, and funding for assistive technology.  Fire Protection Publications is the largest provider of firefighter training materials and curricula in North America.

Nancy Trench, Assistant Director, Fire Protection Publications, said “Oklahoma has more home fire deaths than most other states.  Working smoke alarms are the best way to prevent home fire deaths.  People who are deaf or who are hard of hearing are especially at risk. They cannot hear standard home smoke alarms.”

Solutions 2011 will accept and approve applications from people who are deaf or hard of hearing; install free smoke alarms that meet the unique needs of these individuals; plan a home fire drill specific to each home, and assist with a home safety survey to prevent fires, burns, falls, and other common home injuries. People of all ages with a documented hearing impairment (deaf or hard of hearing), who live in Canadian, Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma, Lincoln, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Payne, Creek, Okmulgee, Wagoner, Tulsa, Pawnee, Osage, Rogers, and Washington are eligible to apply to have free smoke alarms and alert equipment installed in their home.

The Solutions 2011 Smoke Alarm Project is updating important home fire safety materials that directly address the unique needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing including a DVD in American Sign Language, “Fire Safety for YOU at Home”. This free DVD will assist the person who is deaf or hard of hearing to understand the types of equipment that are installed in their home, and provide important home fire and life safety messages.

Solutions 2011 will install smoke detection and alert equipment that uses the latest technology for alerting people to a fire who are deaf or hard of hearing. The equipment will use a bed shaker, a very loud low frequency bedside alert signal, and in some homes a strobe light to waken and alert people to a fire in their home. The Lifetone HL150 is an alert device invented in Oklahoma that will be installed as part of this program.

Linda Jaco, the Assistant Director for the Seretean Wellness Center’s Sponsored Programs, noted, "It is important to provide life-saving assistive technologies, such as these smoke alarms, and alert devices to people who are deaf or hard of hearing so that they are in control of their own safety."
Robert Doke, Oklahoma State Fire Marshal, said, “Thanks to Solutions 2011 the future should be safer for people in Oklahoma.”

If you do not meet the qualifications of being deaf or hard of hearing, or you live outside of the counties represented in the map above, there are resources available for you to personally install the same technology. 

First Alert Model SA302L CN- Approx. Value $22.95-$34.95 plus shipping and handling.
Vendor Contact: BRK Electronics, Inc. Phone: (800) 275-2576
3901 Liberty Street, Aurora, IL 60504
www.firstalert.com

Gentex Model 7139 LS- Approx. Value $169.00 each plus shipping/handling.
Vendor Contact: Harris Communication Phone: (800) 825-6758 (voice) (800) 825-9187 (tyy)
15155 TEchnology Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-2277
www.harriscomm.com

Lifetone Model HLAC 150- Approx. $149.00 each plus shipping and handling.
Vendor contact: Lifetone Technology Phone: (800) 648-7923
800 Research Parkway, Suite 339, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
www.lifetonesafety.com

The total cost of intstalling your own smoke alarm could range between $350.00 and $400.00 for the equipment, if you do not qualify for the free installment funded by the current grant. If you cannot afford the cost upfront, the Alternative Financing Program at Oklahoma ABLE Tech can help you structure your financing.

For more Solutions 2011 Smoke Alarm Project information and an application for free smoke alarms and alert equipment, please contact Oklahoma ABLE Tech at (405) 744-9748 or 1-888-885-5588.

Contact:  Milissa Gofourth, Grant Manager
Oklahoma ABLE Tech,
Milissa.gofourth@okstate.edu
(405) 744-9863 or 1-888-885-5588

What must I do to participate in this program? (1) You must complete an application form and submit it through mail, by fax or online submission. You can print the form from this downloadable version. (2) Provide proof of your disability.