Help firefighters help you: Learn more about the Knox-Box
When fighting fires and saving lives, every second makes a difference.
Hoping to shave minutes -- or even seconds -- off its response times, the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District is encouraging residents to install the Knox-Box Rapid Entry System in their homes.
A Knox-Box is a secure steel box, installed near a property's front entrance or gate, that contains keys to the home or building.
By using their own master key to open the Knox-Box, Deputy Fire Chief John Feit said firefighters can quickly gain entrance to property without having to break any doors or windows.
Any time saved by the system is valuable, Feit said. Studies indicate the chances of survival for people requiring emergency medical care decreases significantly if treatment is not administered within six minutes.
Currently, 131 homes in the district's coverage area use the system. Nationwide, it's used by more than 9,000 fire departments.
District spokesman Ryan McKeon said anyone interested in learning more or getting the system installed should first contact the fire district.
"The department will work with the residents to find the best way to get it purchased and installed," McKeon said.
For information, call the fire district at (847) 304-3600.
To learn more about the system itself, visit knoxbox.com.
Footloose: Tonight kicks off a three-day run of performances by the Barrington High School Orchesis.
The dance troupe's spring performance will be at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the school's Richard C. Johnson Auditorium, 616 W. Main Street.
The show will include a variety of dance styles, such as ballet, modern, tap, jazz and hip-hop.
The program will feature choreography created by students, as well as by guest choreographer Sean Dahlberg of Thodos Dance Chicago.
The Barrington High Orchesis team includes more than 65 students.
Tickets cost $5, $3 for students and children. Senior citizens will be admitted for free.
For information, call (847) 842-3214.
More time to help out: Citizens for Conservation has released its new spring restoration schedule.
Volunteers now are working from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays and Sundays every week. Work includes brush clearing, seed planting and plant rescues from identified construction sites.
Volunteers should wear sturdy boots and work gloves and meet at the conservation headquarters, 459 W. Route 22, Lake Barrington. From there, workers may be asked to head to another work site in the Barrington area. For information, call (847) 382-7283.
Chad Brooks covers the Barrington area. Contact him with your story ideas and feedback at (847) 427-4476 or cbrooks@dailyherald.com.