Indiana gives out visual smoke alarms for deaf community

From The AP:

KOKOMO, Ind. — The Indiana State Fire Marshal's office is giving out more than 1,200 free smoke alarms specially designed to alert people who are hard of hearing or deaf of fires.

The Kokomo Tribune reports that the smoke alarms have strobe lights as well as a bed shaker that can wake up a deaf person to alert them to a fire at night.

The alarms will be installed for free by local fire departments and will be distributed to financially qualifying Indiana residents across the state.

Indiana State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson says the program will help meet the specialized needs of Indiana residents who are deaf or hard of hearing. Indiana has an estimated 500,000 people who are deaf or hard of hearing.