By Keeta J. Bell, Regional Communications Manager

The most dangerous disaster in America often doesn’t come with a storm front or a headline. It starts at home – many times in the middle of the night. The American Red Cross responds to a disaster nearly every eight minutes, the majority of which are home fires. Some involve people in a fire who may never hear a traditional smoke alarm before it’s too late.

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, seconds lost to delayed notification can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why accessible fire-safety technology, such as bed shaker smoke alarms, has become an essential tool for equitable home protection.

What Is a Bed Shaker Smoke Alarm?

A bed shaker smoke alarm is a specialized device designed to alert people who can’t rely on sound alone. When a connected smoke alarm detects smoke, the system can activate:

• A vibrating pad placed under a mattress or pillow
• A bright strobe light
• An optional audible alert for those with partial hearing
   

The vibrating pad is powerful enough to wake a sleeping person, and many systems double as alarm clocks, helping users become comfortable waking to vibration. These devices are installed next to the bed and work in tandem with a traditional smoke alarm, ensuring no one sleeps through a life-threatening emergency.

Across Georgia, accessible alarms are giving families peace of mind — and, in many cases, restoring a sense of safety they thought they had lost.

Restoring Safety

Such was the case for Ethel Tyson, a Georgia resident who is hard of hearing and needed a bed shaker smoke alarm installed. When she contacted the Red Cross, Community Disaster Program Manager Mikkita Dean immediately reached out to the College Park Fire Department for support. Their team was eager to assist with installing the bed shaker alarm and strobe lights.

“We don’t install a lot of bed shakers, but they are incredibly valuable in fire safety,” said Sergeant John Grier from the College Park Fire Department. “Fire safety isn’t one size fits all. Installing a bed shaker ensures that everyone, especially those who are hard of hearing, has an equal chance to be alerted and escape safely.”

Tyson has lived in her home for more than two decades and only had a traditional smoke alarm installed. During the bed shaker installation, Dean communicated with her through writing and drawing. Together, they developed a home fire escape plan, including identifying a safe meeting spot across the street near a tree where Tyson would wait for firefighters to arrive.

“Ms. Tyson told me she does not use sign language and instead reads lips, which encouraged me to slow my rate of speech and be more intentional in how I communicated,” Dean said. “It was my pleasure to ensure she felt supported, understood, and protected in her home.”