Help for Deaf

I am concerned about the problem the deaf have in communicating with the emergency 911 number, as reported in The Times (Feb. 1).

My suggestion is that the deaf have an inexpensive cassette player next to the telephone to play into the mouthpiece of the phone in case of emergency. The cassette would be prerecorded by someone with a calm, but assertive, voice repeating continually until the end of the tape, “A deaf person is in need of help at (address). This is an emergency, send help now! This is a recording.”

The player could have prerecorded tapes (clearly marked) requesting police, paramedics, or the fire department, to be inserted as needed.

I realize there could be problems with this, but at least it would be a simple start until present problems are worked out.

BOBBIE McCORMACK

Valencia