Fire and Rescue Service staff are currently learning sign language and increasing their deaf awareness as the result of funding by the London Development Agency (LDA) and support from unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation. The Deafworks course for firefighters attached to Red Watch at New Malden fire station, a Fire Safety Inspecting Officer and borough-based fire safety admin staff from Lambeth, Croydon and Kingston, specifically focuses on how a deaf or hard of hearing person would need to be approached when carrying out a Home Fire Safety Risk Assessment. It also looks at the need for the appropriate smoke alarm which a deaf person would need in their home, for example, one with flashing lights and a vibrating alarm for under the pillow when asleep.

The training came about because of firefighters’ involvement with Surbiton Deaf Club where they recently gave a short fire safety presentation with the assistance of a Fire Brigade signer. This sparked a lot of interest among the firefighters and at least two of them are aiming to become British Sign Language (BSL) qualified.

The Watch Manager is keen for this session to form part of the initial training firefighters receive when joining the Fire Service as not only does it provide excellent advice on communicating with people suffering from forms of deafness but it is also very useful for helping engaging with anybody who has difficulties with English.

Not only will the course benefit deaf and hard of hearing people in the community, but it will also benefit the learners in their workplaces. The Inspecting Officer meets people deaf and hard of hearing people quite often in various workplaces and skills learnt will help her role tremendously. The office-based staff who work alongside people with hearing difficulties have said how very useful this course is in raising their own awareness of deafness and the best methods to overcome any communication issues.

A recent learning survey carried out over the whole of the London Fire and Rescue Service indicated that over 20% of respondents were interested in sign language, which came a close third behind Spanish and French.

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