Wyandotte Fire Chief Jeremy Moline (right) talks about the benefits of lock boxes, which allow first responders to have rapid access to the residence of a senior or person with a disability without causing damage by initiating a forced entry, as Marika Diamond (left) of BASF public relations and Rand O’Leary, president of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, listen during the April 28 City Council meeting.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – Thanks to donations, the city will soon have lock boxes to give first responders the ability to reach seniors and people with disabilities faster, without forced entry, in emergency situations.
Mayor Robert DeSana said that when he heard about a lock box program in a neighboring city, he thought it was a great idea to bring to Wyandotte.
Fire Chief Jeremy Moline said they hope to provide lock boxes to seniors and people with disabilities, with firefighters having a key to the lock box, which is located near the main exterior doorway.
“So, if we had a medical emergency, or a wellness check, we would be able to go to that home and if it’s locked and they are unable to get to the door, we would have a key to access the key to the home,” he said. “So, it minimizes the damage that we possibly would do getting into the home, and it would also expedite our care that we can render to the possible patient.”
Moline said Wyandotte has many aging residents, and the lock boxes allow them to get in faster without damaging a door or window.
“With this program, it’s strictly voluntary,” he said. “A waiver will be signed, and we feel really confident, and without the help of BASF, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital and the Rotary Club, I don’t think we would have been able to make your vision come to reality and offer this program at no cost to the citizens.”
Moline said the lock boxes they are looking at open with a key and not a combination lock. He said each Fire Department vehicle will have a lock box key.
He said the lock boxes can be relocated to another location or returned back to the Fire Department as needed.
Moline said that because it is small, it’s not very conspicuous.
The launching of a lock box program for the city of Wyandotte is celebrated during the April 28 City Council meeting by Paula Rodriguez (left), senior development officer for Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital; City Councilmember and Rotarian Robert Alderman; Mayor Robert DeSana; Marika Diamond of BASF public relations; Rand O’Leary, president of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital; Councilmember and Rotarian Kaylyn Crayne; Fire Chief Jeremy Moline; Downtown Development Director and Rotarian Joe Gruber; and Councilmember and Rotarian Rosemary Shuryan.
He said they are trying to market the idea to the residents who could benefit from it without announcing it to those who might have ulterior motives.
“I’m super-impressed at how many people have reached out already,” Moline said. “We’re probably going to have to raise more money the way it’s going, but that’s a good problem to have.”
He said the lock box is sturdy, and it would be easier to break into the house than to break into the lock box.
“I feel like this is going to work really well,” Moline said.
Marika Diamond with BASF public relations said the company is happy to help sponsor the acquisition of lock boxes with other sponsors.
“This is a very worthy initiative and it has our full support,” she said.
Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital President Rand O’Leary said that when Moline explained the lock box system to him and the impact it could have on the community it was very easy for him to support it.
“It’s central and in accord with what we do as a hospital in service to the community and particularly those that are vulnerable,” he said. “So, the opportunity to spend a relatively little amount of money in the scheme of things and impact a number of people, and improving their safety and potentially saving lives in the long run, it’s very easy to get behind and we look forward to supporting the program going forward.”
City Councilmember and Rotarian Kaylyn Crayne thanked her fellow Rotarians for supporting the project, and said the club is always willing to help first responders.
Rand O’Leary (center), president of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, presents a symbolic check for $1,500 during the April 28 Wyandotte City Council meeting, to facilitate the purchase of lock boxes, which allow first responders to have rapid access to the residence of a senior or person with a disability without causing damage by initiating a forced entry, as Mayor Robert DeSana (left) and Fire Chief Jeremy Moline join him.