Frank and Mary – Code Red & RU OK and Pet Care During COVID 19

“Frank and Mary” are bringing Westborough residents episodes focused on COVID 19 as its affecting us locally, with guests who can share all sorts of important information and answer common questions. Watch this week’s episode here!

In this week’s episode, hosts Shelby Marshall and Arthur Bergeron welcomed Dr. Armelle Delaforcade from Tufts Cummings Vet School to discuss COVID 19 and its impact on pets and veterinary care. In the second half of their show, they were joined by Fire Chief Patrick Purcell to discuss the Town of Westborough’s new, rapid, emergency notification service called CodeRED®. The system distributes customized, pre-recorded emergency messages directly to homes, businesses, live individuals, and answering machines. To register, go to https://www.town.westborough.ma.us/fire-department/pages/codered-emergency-alert-system. Chief Purcell also discussed the town’s use of RU OK? (“Are you OK?”), for seniors over age 60. Seniors can call 508-389-2310, or email (pcullen@town.westborough.ma.us or jferschke@town.westborough.ma.us) to sign up for this free service that includes:
– Automated phone calls to specified residents’ homes daily. If no answer, the call repeats in one hour. If no answer again, the Fire Department responds in a non-emergency way to check on the resident.
– Senior citizens may secure a key box through the Senior Center. Senior Center staff installs the key box on the exterior of resident’s house and resident puts the house key inside of it. Only the Westborough Fire Department will use this key to gain entry and check on the resident; no forced entry.
– For residents with dementia/Alzheimer’s, we collect a photo, medical history contact for next of kin to create a site file. If we call on RUOK and determine that a person is missing we can transmit the photo and necessary information to all emergency vehicle mobile data terminals as well as on CodeRED.