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Helping your loved one with hearing loss prepare for disastersHelping your loved one with hearing loss prepare for disasters
Contributed by Debbie Clason, staff writer, Healthy Hearing No one expects to be involved in a disaster. Tornadoes, fires, earthquakes and home break-ins are unexpected — and unwanted. Unfortunately, they’re a fact of life. That’s why it’s always good to be prepared, especially if a loved one has hearing loss. Here are a few suggestions for helping those you love with hearing loss prepare for disasters. Put together an emergency kit![]() whether you have hearing loss or not! Try these tips from the Red Cross. The American Red Cross recommends every person have an emergency preparedness kit to use at home or take with you in case of an emergency. This kit should contain:
Additional items to put in your emergency kit for those who are deaf and hard of hearing include:
Set up communications ahead of timeWhen disaster strikes, chaos usually follows. Having a communication plan helps your entire family know what steps to take and how to stay calm during the emergency. Here are some additional communication tips to put in place for family members with hearing loss.
Assistive technologyAnother good way to make sure you’re prepared for a natural disaster is by investing in assistive listening devices for family members who have hearing loss. These devices work in conjunction with hearing aids or are specially designed to alert those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Most of these devices are inexpensive, yet can be invaluable when disaster strikes. Severe weather The National Weather service (NWS) uses Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology to send severe weather warnings directly into your home through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio (NWR). According to the NWS, at least 97 percent of the American population is covered by NWR broadcasts and NWR SAME radio receivers can be equipped with special output connecters which activate alerting devices such as bed shakers, pillow vibrators, sirens and strobe lights. NWR SAME receivers are sold by a variety of manufacturers, such as Radio Shack, Midland, Recom, Homesafe and First Alert. Basic receivers range in price from $50 to $90; systems packaged with external alarm devices begin at $100. Fire When someone you love doesn’t hear well, they probably won’t be able to hear a typical smoke alarm you buy from the local home improvement store, either. Consider installing a bit of extra protection with one of these devices. Most can be purchased at a home improvement store or online. A hearing healthcare professional should be able to recommend the best device for the severity of your loved one’s hearing loss and physical limitations:
Please note: since many of these devices are battery operated, make a mental note to change the batteries each time you are asked to set your clocks back for daylight savings. Theft The only thing worse than realizing your home has been burglarized is learning your loss isn’t covered by insurance. Four burglaries occur every minute in the United States. Thirty percent of burglars enter through an unlocked door or window, 33 percent enter through the front door. And, while most are looking for jewelry, cash or electronics, it’s probably a good idea to make sure your loved one’s hearing aids are protected in case of loss.
Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Taking a few minutes to prepare for disasters will give you peace of mind if nothing happens — and a better chance to survive when an unexpected emergency occurs. Debbie Clason, staff writer, Healthy Hearing
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