Lynnfield Fire Department Offers Expanded Senior Safety Program

LYNNFIELD, MA — The Lynnfield Fire Department teamed up with several organizations last month to roll out a program to keep seniors safe. The new senior safety program is a combination of existing and new initiatives that target the town's older populations with preventative measures.

The program is the product of a partnership between the Lynnfield Fire Department and Lynnfield Council on Aging, A Healthy Lynnfield, and the Lynnfield Rotary Club and is made up of five components:

• Lockboxes
• Home Safety Survey
• File of Life
• Drug disposal bags
• Medication storage boxes

The lockbox program offers seniors their own lockbox, so that first responders have fast access to your home in the case of an emergency. The home survey is an opportunity for seniors to have their home evaluated for fire or danger hazards — fire officials said this is not an inspection and would not reflect badly on residents.

File of life cards can be picked up at both the Lynnfield Fire Department and the Senior Center. The cards let residents fill in patient information such as medical history, allergies and medications as well as other pertinent information EMTs and Paramedics may need in the event of an emergency. The card is left in a red sleeve that is put on the refrigerator, and first responders know to look there.

Drug disposal bags are a safe way to dispose of unwanted drugs while the medication box is a safe container to keep medication seniors may still be taking but away from guests and children.

There are no fees for these services, except for the lockboxes. The lockbox fee will be determined at time of application and may range from free to $35.00.