A Medical Alert System from Alert1 Can Save Your Life

Smart consumers want to know they are getting their money’s worth, and they’re willing to do the research before making a purchase. When it comes to medical alert products, that means knowing whether these systems, in fact, save lives and improve medical outcomes. The problem is the real lack of research from reliable sources. And there’s no research because it’s impossible to design an ethical study with a control group when the outcome is life-or-death.

That said, there is a TON of indirect evidence to suggest that medical alert technology saves lives. This includes plenty of anecdotal evidence as well as general facts about senior health and senior living. Let us convince you that medical alert devices from Alert1 may save your life one day—while also preserving your health, mobility, and independence.

Responding to Early Warning Signs: Often, medical emergencies have early warning signs that are not in themselves reason to immediately dial 911. One of the most common and dangerous myths about heart attacks is that they almost always involve sharp chest pain. In fact, 42 percent of women and 31 percent of men admitted to the hospital for a heart attack didn’t experience any chest pain.

More subtle symptoms of heart attack include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, faintness, and pain in the arms, back, neck, or jaw. Nevertheless, it’s hard to convince yourself to call 911 just because you’re feeling a little lightheaded. If you are feeling a little off and you’re not sure of the cause, hit your medical alert button. Our Command Center operators can stay on the line until you’re feeling better, or we can send someone from your Circle of Care to come and stay with you for a while.

Responding with No Warning Signs: Other times, a heart attack may hit you hard with little-to-no warning signs. Sharp chest pain may cause you to double over, while shortness of breath prevents you from moving any significant distance. In some cases, even a mobile phone on the coffee table may be too far. A medical alert pendant or wristband will allow you to send for help even when you’re almost completely incapable of moving or in the last moments before you become unresponsive.

Fall Detection is Life-Saving Technology: Fall detection medical alerts may be the only thing that summons medical assistance in the event you take a bad fall. When stranded for an extended period of time, seniors can develop secondary complications as the result of a fall. Pressure ulcers can develop. Dehydration or hypothermia can set in. Muscles may start to break down. The kidney may start to fail. Prompt medical attention can be the difference between making a full recovery and finding your health irreparably altered. Atypical falls and other injuries may not be automatically detected but can still be manually activated by pressing the button.

Not sure how important minimizing fall injuries and preserving mobility is to increasing your life expectancy? The Sit-Rise Test has been one of the most widely used tests for longevity and predicting mortality rate since it was first developed in the 1990s. There is also plenty of evidence that the fear of falling increases the risk of falling. Fall detection and monitoring from Alert1 can help you overcome both.  

Medical Alert as Home Security: Though not its primary function, medical alerts can also serve as backup home security. When a burglar gets past your other home security defenses, the only thing standing between you and a direct confrontation with potentially dire consequences is the sound of a call operator’s voice. Periodically, you will see stories in the local news, like this one from the LA Times, in which a home invader was arrested after an elderly woman activated her medical alert device. In truth, these types of incidents may be so common or unremarkable that they don’t make the news at all. But lives are still being saved.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to get the protection offered by our medical alert systems. With multiple ways to wear Alert1 devices, with Home and On-the-Go products, with different types of alert technologies, you can find the system that makes sense for your lifestyle.