Medical Alarm
An electronic device used to call for help by pressing a medical alarm panic button on a wrist band or necklace pendant. A medical alarm system includes both hardware and a monitoring service.
Overview
As demonstrated in the memorable I've fallen and I can't get up television commerical, a medical alarm system offers two way communication with monitoring service personnel who summon friends, family, or emergency response personnel and keep the injured person calm until help arrives.
System equipment
The hardware, or medical alarm device, automatically dials the monitoring service for assistance and includes a desktop console and a pendant or a wrist strap with a panic button to signal the console.
The panic button is typically configured to be worn by the user on a necklace or wrist band. When pressed, the panic button transmits a radio signal to the in-home system console. When the signal is received, the system console auto-dials the monitoring service center for assistance.
The system console is ususally no larger than an answering machine and may be placed on a table top or wall mounted. In addition to autodialing for assistance, the system console may offer two way communication with the monitoring service and double as a speakerphone. Some consoles may be programmed to provide inactivity reporting which requires periodic responses from the panic button wearer. If no response is received, the console will automatically notify the monitoring service to provide emergency assistance.
Monitoring services
A monitoring service is a call center facility that is usually staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to receive calls from the system console. Monitoring service centers that are approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have internal backup systems to ensure continuous availability. Some monitoring services employ 911 trained operators enabling them to better evaluate the severity of help requests.
A Medical Alarm is a device designed to summon help for an individual in the event that he or she is unable to reach the telephone in an emergency such as illness or injury. Like the familiar "I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial an individual can call for help by pushing a button worn on a pendant around his or her neck.
The leading medical alarms have simple, easy-to-install table top units that connect the phone line. When an emergency occurs, a person needs simply to press the button on the pendant from anywhere in the house and a wireless signal similar to that of a TV remote control activates the alarm base unit. The base unit then automatically dials the Medical Alarm company transmits a code that identifies the name and address of the person in need. Additional information including specific health problems may also be available to the Medical Alarm operator.
Operating like a speakerphone, a loud clear speaker on the base unit can be heard throughout the house as the representative from the Medical Alarm company attempts to communicate with the individual in the home and identify the problem. The speakerphone is quite sensitive and allows the representative from the Medical Alarm company to hear a person even if he or she is in another room. Upon careful assessment of the situation the representative is able to notify family and dispatch police, fire or ambulance to the address.The representative will typically stay on the line with the person in need until help arrives.
A Medical Alarm provides peace of mind for elderly or at risk individuals and their loved ones.