Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/4/2021
HOLYOKE – The Holyoke Fire Department has announced the start of their new Knox Box Program available through $30,000 in funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). These Knox Boxes will improve the safety of seniors and those with disabilities by allowing the Fire Department to have access to their home during an emergency.
According to Captain Kevin Cavagnac, the Holyoke Fire Department has received 150 Knox Boxes to be installed onto the homes of interested individuals, free of charge.
Each Knox Box will contain a key to a resident’s front door. This will give the Fire Department a way to access homes quickly, minimize forced entry damage, and protect firefighters from injury.
“In Holyoke, we respond to medical emergencies along with the ambulance as first responders, so we’re present for major medical calls and ambulance calls in the city,” said Cavagnac.
Keys to access the Knox Boxes are carried on all Holyoke Fire Department fire apparatus and command vehicles. No other entity has access to the keys.
Holyoke residents who are 65 years of age or older, residents of any age with special needs and residents of any age who have an existing medical or physical condition that could render them unable to open a locked door in an emergency are eligible for the Knox Box Program.
Cavagnac said that members of the Holyoke Fire Department will go to the homes of eligible individuals to walk them through the application and help in any way possible.
“I don’t want it to be too complicated. I want it to be a hands-on experience for them where we actually come full-service and help them get together whatever they need in order to fill out the application,” he said.
The Fire Department will then install the Knox Box and give suggestions on how to make the home safer on an individual basis.
“Anyone that this would benefit is eligible to apply with us and we’ll go meet with them and talk about how it can help them. It may go further than just the box being on their house, it may go to us putting them in contact with any other services that we can think of,” said Cavagnac.
As part of the Knox Box Program, Cavagnac said that residents will also be given a “file of life” card. This card will go into a magnetic envelope on their fridge. The card includes pertinent medical information, medical history, contact numbers for next of kin and more. He said that all first responders are trained to look for these cards.
“That really makes the job of responding to, say, an unconscious or unresponsive person a lot easier for the medical responders. They can treat them correctly and give information to the hospital once they get there,” he said.
Cavagnac said should a resident ever change their locks it would be their responsibility to notify the Fire Department and provide them with a new key. The Knox Boxes are loaners and will be returned to the Fire Department when the original resident moves or no longer has a need for it.
He said if the Fire Department gives out the 150 boxes, they will be looking into getting more.
“From my understanding of what our agreement is, if we go through that number quickly we will be able to get more and supplement it,” he said. “If it’s successful then it is going to be adopted as a regular program.”
Cavagnac said this program is important to bring awareness to fire safety and to show residents ways the Holyoke Fire Department can help them personally.
“The time saved for these responders to be able to get immediate access is sometimes a matter of life and death. It is that crucial that we get in and take care of you,” he said.
For more information residents are encouraged to call 534-2254 or visit https://www.holyoke.org/departments/fire/.