Warning videos in sign language

FIRE safety messages were expressed in British Sign Language as the county’s firefighters supported Deaf Awareness Week.

The information spread across social media and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s website took the form videos withe BSL as the main communication tool.

The videos were also showcased to an over 50s social group organised by Leicester Deaf Action Group for people who are profoundly deaf.

As well as providing vital warnings the videos were seen as a way of gaining feedback from the deaf and hard of hearing community about the effectiveness of the service’s communications.

Steve Lunn, chief fire and rescue officer, said: “It is essential that we, as a service, do our utmost to try and make all our safety messages accessible to everyone within our local communities - it’s our duty.

“In order for us to do this and support Deaf Awareness Week, we have used resources from within the service to produce a suite of videos which will be used on social media and our website.”