Fire Safety for the Deaf

Mike Catherall
On Sept 22, 2005 there was a fire at the Richmond Hotel. Two women died, and 14 were sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Two of these people were deaf. They were asleep and could not hear the alarms. People often forget that the deaf require specialized emergency equipment, such as flashing lights, to wake them from sleep. At the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing it is possible to get such equipment. In your house, office or building, it is something you should take into consideration. WIDHH is non-profit, so they understand.

This was a public service announcement we filmed for the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing last Fall and is now available online here (on the top right).


We had the director of WIDHH (who is deaf) sign this public service announcement for us on Friday. The shoot went very well – we were able to film all three ads in just over 3 hours. No major setbacks except for the squeaky floor upstairs. We had to constantly run upstairs to tell people who are deaf and hard of hearing to try to be more quiet.
Print Email
Bookmark and Share

Mike Catherall

Mike Catherall is the founder of Immersion Creative. 



The idea behind this Vancouver advertising agency is that the best solutions are often found by completely immersing the writer in a client's environment, to get a true feel of the business.

Working from within, Mike can produce everything from TV ads, to websites, to brochures, radio and ambient, all the while creating an online presence that will keep you on the first page of Google.

Mike is an award-winning English copywriter and columnist as well as a former Native English teacher. He has worked for some of the world's most prestigious agencies, including Ogilvy & Mather and Publicis on clients such as Disneyland, Mercedes-Benz, Citibank and Western Union.

For years, Mike worked as a copywriter in Hong Kong. He has also written novels, radio plays, children's books, screenplays, and more than ten blogs. He makes smartphone auto apps as well.

His adventures as an English copywriter can be found here. In his American Chronicle columns, Mike's focus is on sustainability advertising.

His current clients include mattress Victoria retailer, Mattress Choice, as well as CRNE prep course instructors - Primed Educational Associates and the best Vancouver mattress store, Simmons Mattress Gallery.

Immersion's other clients are: Vancouver West End Real Estate Agent, Anthea Poon, Mountain bike armour for Iron Mountain Wear, Vancouver Baby Photographer, Petite Reverie and Gibsons Bed and Breakfast A Warehouse Hide-A-Way.

To find out more, visit Immersion Creative, or call 604 537 1874.

Mike supports the Earth Rising Foundation and cancer-fighting Radiochemistry as performed by the Lapi Lab.

Got Debt?  Get Debt Wise.