Cell Phones 

 Used Cell Phones Help Senior Citizens in Emergencies

Don’t throw your used cellular phone away. Instead donate it so that senior citizens in the borough can use them during emergencies. Through a joint effort of Quintex Cellular at 3665 Library Road and the Castle Shannon Police Department, Quintex will donate cellular telephones that have been traded in to issue to senior citizens. The telephones will have only one capability - to call 911 in an emergency.

The telephones will be distributed to senior citizens who request them starting June 1 at the police department. "Senior citizens with a medical history will be the priority" said Mayor Don Baumgarten

The Castle Shannon Police Department requests that anyone who has discontinued service or have unneeded cellular telephones to drop off their telephones and also the chargers at the police department.

Seniors who request phones will receive an instruction sheet and will be required to sign a waiver.

"Many times in an emergency a senior could call police fire departments or medical rescue when they are out of the house," said Police Chief Harold Lane. "Due to monthly charges, it is cost prohibitive for most seniors to purchase and maintain cellular phone service."

The phones do not have to be activated to dial 911, he said. Chief Lane said that this program will greatly assist seniors with medical problems and assist in direct contact with public safety services. "The most important thing to remember is that the cellular telephone will only contact a 911 Emergency Center and no other service would be provided incoming or outgoing."