‘Knox Box’ could save a door, and a life
By Bill Ackerman
La Grange Fire Chief Dave Fleege demonstrates the ease of installing a Knox Box on a residential door using the model with a door hanger Oct. 30. They can be mounted on a hanger or secured to a door or the building to securely store a house key. The La Grange and La Grange Park Fire Departments are making Knox Boxes available to residents, so that they can gain access to a secure key in an emergency.
La Grange Suburban Life
Fri Oct 30, 2009, 03:55 PM CDT
La Grange, IL -
A locked door keeps unwanted visitors out of the house at night or during the day when homeowner is away. It also keeps out a police officer or firefighter when duty calls.
La Grange fire officials presented the Village Board with an option Oct. 26 for being able to enter a front door in the event of an emergency, the Knox Box.
The device, now available to homeowners, is essentially a small safe attached to the front of the house or front door that holds a key to the home. The Fire Department keeps the master key to unlock the box.
The program is partnership between the Aging Well Community Action Team and the Fire Department. Fire Chief David Fleege said the device is ideal for seniors or people with special needs.
“If we are responding to an emergency, instead of forcing the door open, we have access to the home,” Fleege said. “There’s a lot of elderly or special needs people who can’t get to the door very quick. It could save lives and offer a sense of security to seniors and special needs people.”
Several of the Knox Boxes already have been installed at commercial locations in the village, as well as a few at residences.
Fleege urged seniors to purchase the hang-on door Model 1651 because it requires no installation. Other models available must be installed.
| To purchase a Knox Box • Fill out form at Fire Department • Have it signed by Chief David Fleege • Mail it with check to cover cost directly to: Knox Box, 1601 Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85027 |
La Grange resident and Knox Box representative Joe Shanley said there are currently 11,000 fire departments using the Knox Box, 600 of which are in Illinois.
Cost ranges between $159 and $171. While the device may seem pricey, Shanley said the cost of replacing a front door justifies the cost of the box.
“For a senior living alone who can’t get to the door, if a paramedic looks in the window and sees that person lying on the floor, they are going to get in there. We have never had (a Knox Box) compromised. It’s a UL (Underwriter Laboratories) listed product and that’s important to us.”
Action Team co-leader Jim Matthews said his group is spreading the word about the benefits of the device, and Aging Well is trying to get supplemental funding to bring the price down.
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