Residential Knox-Box® Program assists city’s seniors, people with special needs

Submitted by City of St. Cloud

St. Cloud, Fla. – One of the many programs offered by the City of St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department as a public service is the Residential Knox-Box® Program, which is aimed to assist senior citizens and people with special needs. Fire Rescue received a Florida State Firefighters’ Association grant last year for the purchase of 10 residential Knox-Box® key boxes. Fire Rescue personnel from Fire Station #31 installed three of those Residential Knox-Box® key boxes April 24 at three St. Cloud residences.

“The key boxes are on loan to residents until they are no longer needed,” said St. Cloud Fire Marshal David Ennis. “Residents may purchase the key boxes at a cost of $170 (plus shipping and handling) directly from the Knox Company.”

The Knox-Box® key box contains a high-security master key used only by emergency responders. The master key allows for personnel to gain entry into the key box to help protect people and property during emergencies. After a residential Knox-Box® key box is installed, emergency responders can take action quickly without forcing entry when a person is injured or becomes critically ill at home. Also, if no one is home and an alarm activates, emergency responders can determine if it is a false alarm or an actual emergency.

For more details on the Residential Knox-Box® Program, call (407) 957-8484.