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More Community Corner Springfield installs smoke detectors in homes of seniors
Springfield’s elder affairs department, taking advantage of a program created by the state Department of Public Health, over the past 18 months has installed more 2,000 smoke detectors in the homes of the city’s seniors.
The smoke detectors, which are powered by a lithium battery designed to last 10 years, cost the state between $25 and $40 each, according to Jan Denney, Springfield’s elder affairs director.
The key to the widespread use of the smoke detectors, Denney said, is that Springfield offers to install them for free.
“For the seniors, if you just give them the smoke detectors, it’s still very difficult for them to get up on a ladder and install them,” Denney said.
Installation is handled by Department of Elder Affairs staff and inspected by the fire department. The team typically installs about a half-dozen of the smoke detectors in each home.
While installing the smoke detectors, in some cases workers have discovered wiring problems that pose fire hazards.
“We’ve actually saved people’s lives by going in,” Denney said.
Mayor Domenic Sarno attended a brief ceremony on May 13 at the home of 84-year-old Alfred Zanetti when the 2,000th smoke detector was installed. Zanetti served as principal of a Springfield school from 1954 to 1990.
More Community Corner Springfield installs smoke detectors in homes of seniors
Springfield installs smoke detectors in homes of seniors
Springfield’s elder affairs department, taking advantage of a program created by the state Department of Public Health, over the past 18 months has installed more 2,000 smoke detectors in the homes of the city’s seniors.
The smoke detectors, which are powered by a lithium battery designed to last 10 years, cost the state between $25 and $40 each, according to Jan Denney, Springfield’s elder affairs director.
The key to the widespread use of the smoke detectors, Denney said, is that Springfield offers to install them for free.
“For the seniors, if you just give them the smoke detectors, it’s still very difficult for them to get up on a ladder and install them,” Denney said.
Installation is handled by Department of Elder Affairs staff and inspected by the fire department. The team typically installs about a half-dozen of the smoke detectors in each home.
While installing the smoke detectors, in some cases workers have discovered wiring problems that pose fire hazards.
“We’ve actually saved people’s lives by going in,” Denney said.
Mayor Domenic Sarno attended a brief ceremony on May 13 at the home of 84-year-old Alfred Zanetti when the 2,000th smoke detector was installed. Zanetti served as principal of a Springfield school from 1954 to 1990.
Written by MMA Associate Editor Mitch Evich
