Some states provide the technology to qualifying individuals free or for a nominal charge. FEMA recommends keeping an accessible phone and a whistle by your bed along with a list of emergency numbers and your eyeglasses. It's a good idea to have an accessible phone in each room of the house, too, and to consider purchasing a cordless phone. Get a programmable phone. You may want to look into commercial services that let you call for help at the touch of a button on a remote device, such as one worn around the neck.
Phoenix offers such a system to people with special needs at no charge.
It includes a hand-held unit that automatically sends a signal to the fire department when activated. A printout with full information on the needs of the person making the call appears automatically when the call is made. In hallways, manual pull stations used to signal a fire alarm are now required to be at a height that a person in a wheelchair can reach. In addition to audible signals to inform people of a fire, visible signals such as high-intensity flashing lights are now coming into use. USFA advises rescue workers that talking briefly with the people who are to be moved can provide crucial information.