Brooks Australia has released the VisalertPLUS Visual Warning Device, a fire alarm that keeps people with hearing impairments safe from smoke and fire.

With an estimated one in six Australians impacted by hearing loss, around 3.6 million are at risk of sleeping through danger. Research from Brooks Australia reveals over half (53%) of those who are hard of hearing don’t wear their hearing aids or cochlear implants while they sleep.

The latest Australian figures reveal that house fires most commonly occur between 8pm and 8am, particularly between midnight and 4am. This highlights the heightened risk of fires beginning when residents are asleep.

With most residential fires occurring at night, it’s concerning that a quarter (25%) of Australians believe their elderly relatives would sleep through a smoke alarm.

Even more concerningly, half (50%) of Australians are worried that their relatives could not escape a house fire in time, with low mobility and being hard of hearing topping the list as the biggest barrier to getting out safely.

Brooks Australia manager for fire and system solutions Jim Tsanidis says regardless of their hearing ability, all Australians deserve to be safe in their homes and have access to technology that aids their safety.

“Smoke alarms save lives, but those who are hard of hearing cannot depend on the sound of a regular alarm to alert them to a fire. Particularly for vulnerable Australians who may live alone, it’s vital there is a solution in place to notify them when danger arises and help get them out as quickly and safely as possible,” he says.

Recognising that alerting the sleeping occupant of the danger is the first of two very crucial steps, the device can also be utilised as an emergency luminaire, to ensure that once awake, the individual is able to make their way to a place of safety. In this format, placed along a hallway or above stairs, it lights up the escape path for the occupant.

However, having this technology is only one piece of the puzzle. To ensure that every household member knows the quickest, safest way to exit the home in case of an emergency, families should prepare a well-established fire safety plan, especially since only a third (33%) of Aussie parents have a fire escape plan in place.

Brooks Australia fire safety expert and chief executive Cathy Brand emphasises that it’s essential for Aussies to dedicate five minutes to creating or revisiting their family’s plan because in an emergency, preparedness can save lives.

“Every minute counts in a home fire. Therefore, it’s important for all family members, particularly vulnerable members who may be hard of hearing, elderly relatives, and those who live with a disability, to have and know the escape plan,” she says.

“On top of this, it’s vital to have an alarm system designed for your needs to give you and your family the earliest warning possible. After all, well-prepared families are more likely to escape their homes safely and without panic.”