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Flick of switch can summon help
911 Beacon Light
Video
The Mahoning Valley Task Force hopes flashing bulbs will assist area residents in times of emergency.
When 87-year-old Mary Rush of Liberty died on her porch in April 2008, the Rev. Alfred Coward knew something needed to be done to ensure emergency assistance to elderly in the area.
Since that time the Mahoning Valley Task Force on Crime and Violence Prevention, with the help of Youngstown City Council, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department and community groups, purchased 911 Beacon Bulbs that can be a flashing signal for help.
The Task Force is a group of community organizers that addresses safety information and assists neighborhood collaborations in Mahoning County.
“Flick the switch once, and it’s a regular light; when you flick the switch twice, it flashes,” said the Rev. Mr. Coward of the task force during a media conference Friday.
The lights were created to alert block watch groups and first responders in emergency situations or to be used as a normal front-porch or yard light, Mr. Coward said.
Many homes in the city don’t have numbers to identify addresses, so emergency responders can have a difficult time finding places that call for help. The Beacon Bulbs can help, especially at night or in poor weather, Mr. Coward said.
“This initiative just shows the impact this task force has,” task force chairman Ricky George said.
The next endeavor is to expand the initiative throughout the Mahoning Valley, he said.
This year, the task force will distribute about 600 bulbs to area residents, Mr. Coward said.
“If we save one life with the money we spent, that life is worth it all,” he said.
The cost of the bulbs was about $5,000.
“If you see the light flashing, don’t just drive by,” Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said.
It’s the responsibility of neighbors to check in on each other and dial 911 in emergency situations, he said.
During the media conference, the Task Force and Mayor Williams also recognized Reggie Revere for his consistent work with area youth.
“The Task Force always looks for individuals who go above and beyond duty,” George said.
“I never met someone with so much passion who wanted to help out” he said.
Revere has been working to get kids motivated to exercise and stay drug free for about 20 years. Summer fitness and youth programs and personal training for student athletes keep Revere involved in the community, he said.
“Today I continue to do what I’m doing because it works,” Revere said, noting that his own children are his motivation.
Revere is currently working at Mineral Ridge and East Liverpool Schools and focusing on targeting youth obesity, he said.
Students love the method of combining “traditional exercise with an aerobic swing,” Revere said.
Mayor Williams presented Revere with a proclamation that said Revere was “recognized for hard work and dedication to youth ... so they could lead a positive life in the Mahoning Valley.”