BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BCA) has become the second major airport in the UK (after Birmingham) to install Deaf Alerter, a radio-based fire alarm warning and messaging system for deaf and hard of hearing passengers. The introduction of the system not only improves BCA facilities, in compliance with the new 2004 Disability Discrimination Act, but also makes passage through the airport easier and safer for those with hearing difficulties. Normally a person in an airport relies on the audible alarms for fire or emergency warnings. However deaf and hard of hearing people are excluded from these vital messages. The Deaf Alerter system overcomes this barrier by means of a small hand-held device, known as an Alerter. Passengers can borrow an Alerter free of charge from the information desk and those who own their own will need to register it upon arrival. The system comprises a VHF radio transmitter and an aerial, which is permanently connected to the airport”s fire alarm organisation. It responds instantly to an alarm and each Alerter in use receives a simultaneous signal, vibrating and flashing to attract the wearer”s attention. This will contin ue, until the Alerter user is safely out of the building.
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