We are pleased to see firefighters in Hertfordshire are making their services more accessible to deaf people by learning sign language.
Hertfordshire firefighters learn sign language
Firefighters in Hertfordshire have been taught basic sign language.
Commander Justin Jones said 11 officers at Stevenage fire station had learned phrases and the alphabet to help communication with deaf people.
The training was conducted by British Sign Language tutors at North Hertfordshire College.
Mr Jones said the officers would now use signing when carrying out home safety checks for people with hearing impairments.
“We are always looking at different ways of engaging with vulnerable groups in our community,” he said.
He added that signing could also be used in emergency situations.
“There can often be a lot of confusion during a fire so it is useful to have another form of communication available to us.”
