Earplugs? During a wildfire?

[AsYouSaid]

I know the news story is about the devastating fires, but I couldn't get past one lady interviewed on BBC News.

You're alone in your holiday house with your children. There are wildfires nearby. You know there are alerts, and that the situation could change overnight.

So you put earplugs in... and go to sleep.

She seemed indignant because she slept through the evacuation order.

I'm genuinely struggling to understand her decision. In that situation I'd want every sense available – to hear sirens, neighbours, emergency services, or anything else that might mean it's time to get out. I’m not sure I would have gone to bed at all, or shut my eyes, never mind wear earplugs.

Thankfully, for now she and her children are safe, but stranded and cut off

Surely, choosing to block out the very warnings that could save your life, and your children's, seems an extraordinary lack of judgement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80ny93xlrvo?app-referrer=deep-link

I thought the same. And the implication it was someone else's fault and now responsibility to get them out.

Both times I didn't get one on my phone and I've not knowingly disabled them. I'd appreciate the warning!

Putting aside her decision - she has highlighted an important issue of the alerts not being sufficient for deaf residents, putting them in more danger. Let's hope lessons are learned from this for the future and precautions taken for those more vulnerable.

As I said earlier, I am deaf (with some residual hearing left) and I heard the phone alert. It is LOUD.

Deaf people like me also have vibrate alerts for backup. It's how my alarm clock works!

I guess some like to criticise

So single parents should never wear ear plugs?

I'm deaf too, I didn't hear mine.

I tend to rely on flashing light devices rather than vibration ones as they work better for me, but my system isn't portable so I wouldn't have it with me on holiday.

Not really. I would never wear them as I'm a lone parent. I'm on 24/7.

I hate the idea of wearing ear plugs even under normal circumstances. I like all my senses to be fully functional at all times, but to be fair I do live alone. So the idea of wearing them when the apocalypse is unfolding all around you is beyond bonkers.

I know I chose to compromise on bedrooms so that I could sleep on the same floor as my children, rather than two floors below them, worried about what would happen in a fire.

As a lone parent the responsibility is all on me.

I know, what an idiot. Zero sympathy. I lol-ed.

Do you have accessibility notifications set up on your phone?

I saw that too! I was like “Just why?” No way could I have slept and I certainly wouldn’t have put ear plugs in. To be honest I’d have just gone I would be very scared and moved out, even if I lost money.

🙄