Like many communities in Maine, Scarborough has an ever increasing population that is aging in place. Many reading this are themselves, or have loved ones that are facing the day to day challenges of remaining independent. Have you ever considered what you would do if you had a medical emergency while home alone? As an individual with aging parents, you can rest assured I have been focused on helping them prepare for any such events. A couple ways to accomplish this is to be sure there is a consistent way for you or your loved one to access 911, and conversely a way for 911 (First Responders) to gain access when they arrive. In this article, we will talk about some possible solutions.

 

Home Emergency Medical Alert Activation Systems

If you're considering such a system, which should you choose? The wide variety of features, service options, and fees can make it challenging to figure out what's best for you. Also, you might wonder whether you can simply rely on the technology you already have, such as a smartphone? This could be risky because it's unlikely that you have your smartphone with you all the times. How many of us get up from a chair and leave it there. If you don't have an emergency response system on your body that is going to stay on your body, you could be at risk. 

 

And if you're considering a digital assistant such as Amazon's Alexa, for this purpose, note that it may not have all the features you need. For example, Alexa and Google Home can dial landline and mobile phone numbers. But right now, neither can call 911. All medical alerts can dial 911 and family members.

 

The Scarborough Fire Department is pleased to announce our continued partnership with Scarborough Ace Hardware to provide the residential Knox HomeBoxes program for our community.

The Knox Company developed a residential key box program as a companion to their long-standing and very successful commercial key box program for businesses. Installing a key box on your home and providing the fire department with access to a key, allows firefighters and EMS professionals to gain entry to your home using your key. This also prevents damage to doors or windows from us forcing entry when a patient can't come to the door. Knox HomeBoxes make our responder's job easier by providing rapid access to the home so we can provide quick and efficient emergency response.

We have a limited amount of boxes that may be purchased at a discounted rate for residents or that may not otherwise be able purchase one. For more information please contact Captain Butler of the Scarborough Fire Department at 207-730-4051.

The Role of Social Media in the Arab Spring

Kathleen Howard Sutherland, Associate Professor Emeritus, Bowling Green State University

Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 2:00 pm

Sutherland will discuss the various forms of media that were used across the Middle East to promote political action on the streets against authoritarian regimes, including the video posted by a young Egyptian woman that cut across classes and sectors of society to help spark a remarkable mass uprising.

 

The Return of the Moguls: How Jeff Bezos and John Henry Are  Remaking Newspapers for the Twenty-First Century

Dan Kennedy, Nationally Recognized Media Commentator

Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 6:30 pm

The fate of newspapers, whether in print or online, matters to democracy. Despite the battering they have taken during the past several decades, they remain crucial for holding government and other large institutions to account. Kennedy will explore how the iron core of accountability journalism might be preserved through his examination of a new breed of wealthy newspaper publishers.

All events at the Library are free and open to the public. For additional information, visit the Camden Conference Series page on the Library's website.