Fire crews help out in Deaf Awareness Week

5:49pm Friday 9th May 2008

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AS part of Deaf Awareness Week Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has been offering safety advice to Warrington's deaf communtiy.

In an event at Golden Square on Wednesday, the Service provided information on alternative equipment to smoke alarms for deaf people and those with hearing impairments.

Experts were also on hand to give road safety advice in the wake of the Red Routes campaign, which has identified seven dangerous roads in the town that will be pin pointed to drivers by red road signs.

Melanie Pitts, deaf persons advocate, co-ordinated the event.

She said: "We want to let the deaf community know about the services we can provide for them, such as the special smoke alarms with vibrating pads which go under the pillow and flashing lights so anyone who can't hear can be alerted to a fire.

"Also, the Red Routes are being promoted by the road safety team to highlight the most dangerous roads in Cheshire.

"There are deaf people living all over the county and I want them to be aware of these dangerous roads."

Colin Heyes, road traffic collision reduction officer, added: "We are aiming to reduce the number of casualties on the road in three ways.

"By educating people and making them aware of the number of casualties on the road; engineering - the Highways Agency will be looking at these roads to see if they can be made safer; and by enforcement with the police enforcing speed limits on these roads."

To see which roads are affected visit www. mysaferroads.org.uk