Ever had a false alarm? My partner and I had one this morning. We were entering the shopping center, when an alarm boomed through the building. Since those around us weren't making a fuss, we didn’t feel concerned and continued on our way through the center.
“It’s probably a security alarm,” we surmised.
A few moments later, a lady intercepted us and advised us to exit the building as a fire alarm was sounding. I was surprised, as it didn't sound like previous fire alarms I had heard. My partner agreed.
We joined a small crowd outside the doors. Everyone seemed a bit confused, not sure what was going on. Was there a fire? Should we be worried? The funny thing was, there were still quite a few people wandering casually through the stores. They sure didn’t seem too concerned! Fortunately, the alarm eventually ceased. It turned out that burnt toast from a cafe was the culprit!
I believe that today’s incident highlights the fact that all fire alarms should sound the same, so that blind/vision impaired people are aware of what the alarm means. In addition, I believe an announcement should be made over the speaker system, alerting everyone to the presence of a fire. What if a blind person is wandering around one day, unnoticed by others others, oblivious to any fire threat?
Would love to hear your thoughts/experiences regarding this topic!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Cheers!
Bird’s Eye
