In an uncertain world, there’s one person you can turn to for dependable advice: the limping chicken, offering tips on common deaf-related problems from its Yorkshire coop.
One of our readers asks:
Dear Chicken,
I’m deaf and I often stay in hotels and I worry about whether I’d wake up if a fire or smoke alarm went off. Do you know what deaf people’s rights are for vibrating fire alarms in hotels?
The chicken replies:
If you think that deaf people have it bad, try asking a farmer for a chicken-accessible alarm! All too often, farmers are more worried about keeping foxes out than protecting us from fire or smoke. Anyway, I digress…
From the chicken’s anecdotal experience, accessible vibrating or flashing alarms are provided in many hotels nowadays, especially the bigger chains.
But worryingly, we still hear stories of hotel staff telling deaf people that they will “come and get you” if a fire or smoke alarm breaks out. That’s not something that tends to fill us with confidence.
Just picture it – a huge fire breaks out in the reception area of the hotel, and within minutes, people are streaming down the lifts and fire exits to safety. Can you see a staff member on the minimum wage fighting their way against the tide, upstairs to heroically break into a deaf person’s room and save them? Hmmm.
As ever, any ‘rights’ we have to accessible alarms come down to how the Equality Act 2010 is interpreted. We asked disability adviser Brian Seaman for his advice, and he told us:
The Equality Act 2010 places obligations on service providers to ‘anticipate’ the needs of disabled people.So I guess that would include hotels providing a flashing light linked to the fire alarm in bedrooms and bathrooms in designated accessible accommodation.I’m not aware that there has ever been a tribunal about the non-provision of this useful kit.My advice is always to provide suitable systems to enable anyone with a hearing or sight loss to be alerted by an alarm for emergency evacuation purposes at hotels.
This would suggest that the bigger the hotel or hotel chain, the more obligation they have to anticipate that some of their customers will be deaf and make sure that they are kept safe through an accessible alarm.
The chicken suggests not leaving it to chance. When booking a hotel, find out beforehand what kind of alarms they offer and how you’d be kept safe in an emergency, and get this in writing. Then demand it, when you check in.
After all, this could be a matter of life and deaf. Sorry, death!
Sleep safe on your travels, readers.
Do you agree with the chicken’s advice? Tell us what YOU would do below!
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Natalya D
April 13, 2016
I admit to not usually bothering. I don’t stay in hotels often. Last time I did bother they gave me a Deafgard portable deaf flashing/vibrating fire alarm with no batteries in it. By the time I realised I decided I was too tired of talking to people to go and bother them as I suspected they wouldn’t have the C Cell batteries needed or screwdriver to fit the batteries. I did tell them the next day when I handed the deafgard back in – I hope they made sure it was given out with batteries next time…
Also I’ve twice witnessed a Deafgard not going off with a fire alarm sound cos the alarm wasn’t loud enough to cause a trigger so unless someone has DEFINITELY tested it, I wouldn’t trust Deafgards… Ideally I’d witness a test alarm setting it off properly for myself.
The main issue is that the deaf person has to do all the chasing which means more talking to people who may be difficult to hear and if the alarm provided doesn’t work then there isn’t much anyone can do there and then, and who has time to complain every time we get deaffail…
Lucy
April 13, 2016
I regularly organise residentials in which we have large groups of deaf young people staying in hotels. Most hotels regardless of size are shockingly bad about the law and safe practice in the event of a fire for deaf guests. To date I think the uk has been extremely lucky not to have had a major incident.
I’ve had hotel staff recount that they will phone the room in the event of a fire, turn the TV on with an alarm or they will come and get you.
Seriously! How likely is that to work in the event of a major fire. Very few understand their duty and law regarding deaf guests and keeping them safe in the event of a fire. Even fewer have heard of a deaf alerter.
We proactively educate hotels, staff and the young people we look after to always share they are deaf and their rights to have a safe stay in a hotel.
We’re a long way off though!
deaflinguist
April 13, 2016
This is something close to my heart as a deaf female who often travels solo for work and leisure.
The deaf £ matters. If the hotel is clued up, their Access(ibility) Policy or Statement will encompass a broad range of what they can do for their guests. It amazes me that most high-end hotels don’t do this – they’re missing a trick. Access may come as standard with luxury accommodation, but I’d rather not have to check with them first. Sell me all your glitz and glamour and Art Deco rooms, but unless you can guarantee me my safety and that subs are enabled on your Bang & Olufsen or Loewe television then I’m not booking with you.
One well-known domestic budget chain considers that it has done its duty by publishing an Access Policy assuring potential customers that its website meets accessibility standards. Its equally well-known rival publishes a clear and comprehensive Access Statement stating how they cater for different needs, including deaf guests. I know that I will always get a DeafGard with them and subtitles on their TVs always work, and I know they’re the preferred budget choice for many other deafies too. Their cancellation policy also allows you to cancel accommodation through the website – many don’t, even if you’ve booked online, you can only cancel by phone. And as they have a solo female policy, they tick more than one box for me!
A West Country family-run chain got high marks from me recently, when I booked at short notice for a family funeral. They have individual access statements for the majority of their hotels. A website glitch meant that they took on the booking via e-mail – reasonable adjustment in action! Communication on arrival with reception was lovely and clear and they presented me with a DeafGard they’d checked over. Subs didn’t work (to be honest, as I was spending most of the stay with my family it didn’t matter too much) but they were expecting them to work as standard, and were pleased to be advised so that they could rectify it, so, on the whole, pretty much full marks. It made a sad time a lot easier.
Next time I go to the West Country for leisure I’ll be booking with them – as I say, the deaf £ matters.
That said – the DeafGard could do with some redesign. I get that it has to be seen to be in working mode, but the blinking light is a little bit distracting when trying to sleep.
Natalya D
April 15, 2016
Deaflinguist – The Deafgard has had an update cos I complained about the flashing light of distracting doom when work bought me one. The developers to their credit replied quickly, released a software update and replaced my work’s Deafgard free of charge and said all new ones will have the new software…
deaflinguist
April 16, 2016
That’s great. Love your description of ‘flashing light of distracting doom’. Now for hotels to buy in their upgrades! I’ll write to the leading budget chain and suggest it – they have a ‘good night guarantee’ so it applies to us as well. 🙂
Aine
April 14, 2016
The Chicken said ” But worryingly, we still hear stories of hotel staff telling deaf people that they will “come and get you” if a fire or smoke alarm breaks out. That’s not something that tends to fill us with confidence.
Just picture it – a huge fire breaks out in the reception area of the hotel, and within minutes, people are streaming down the lifts and fire exits to safety. Can you see a staff member on the minimum wage fighting their way against the tide, upstairs to heroically break into a deaf person’s room and save them? Hmmm.”
I can answer that one, On all premises, Public/Services, there will be or should be an Allocated Fire Warden, usually management , they have specific Fire and Preventative training, pending on size premises/ person capacity there could be 2 or 3 on premises at all times, so when or if you are told ” that a person will come and get you ” it is likely that they are trained to do that job, ie.. if fire is small enough tackle it head on (hopefully whilst fire brigade is on way), then another FW will be scouring each room to ensure each room and each level is clear and no-one is still snoring away and no scared child/adult is hiding in a cupboard. Some FW’s will stay with someone (until Fire Services arrive if the emergency access points are blocked). A few years ago a deaf man/tutor of a course stated to me and “others” in the room ” if fire alarm goes off you must let me know ” – hmm i remember thinking “I’m not responsible for you” . But still it was the “tutors” responsibility to the other “adult learners” (his friends) to explain the fire drill ie, evacuation points and meeting point which he did not do.
Editor
April 15, 2016
I don’t feel confident in this I’m afraid. We’ve been told stories this week of deaf people waking up to find a note under their door saying ‘fire alarm’ – fortunately finding out that the fire alarm was a false alarm, but what if it had been real?
nathan
June 17, 2016
Just happened to me with a well known hotel ,who promoted how accessible they are and state they have deafgard , yet they did not provide us one. I am seriously thinking of taking this a step further and sue them ….lucky no fire alarm went off but I still want to sue them.
Janet
June 27, 2016
We stayed in the Mercure Perth recently and were surprised to be offered a Deaf Guard and a note from the manager saying safety is of paramount to them. We were instructed put the receiver under the pillow and it will vibrate and a light will flash if the fire alarm sounds.
It did go off when I used the hairdryer the next morning.
The Guest Care Manager also wrote he believed that they do offer Deaf Guards across the Accor Hotels, but it is best to contact the hotel directly to confirm before arrival.