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Since medical alert technology is often marketed to senior caregivers and the elderly, it can seem as though that’s the only audience who might make good use of that technology. The truth is that anyone can make good use of an emergency button alarm, especially if that button includes fall detection. Who says peace of mind is only for our elderly population? It can be just as wonderful for those who aren’t yet close to their golden years. Here’s why.
How Medical Alert Technology Works
Medical alarms come in the form of a wearable option, such as a pendant, bracelet, or watch. These items are designed to be worn at all times, even in the shower – they are showerproof, and we recommend you always wear them during your shower, so you can reach out for help if you happen to slip. There’s a good reason for this: according to the CDC, over 81% of injuries sustained in the bathroom occurred as the result of a fall (this includes everyone over the age of 15 years of age, not just the elderly).
If you suffer an emergency, press the button on your medical alert device. The devices work across all 50 states to connect you to a Command Center. This 24/7/365 Command Center is staffed with professionals who will answer your call and help you determine what assistance you need. If you need emergency services, they will get them to you right away. Then they will get in touch with those on your customized list, which might include family members, neighbors, or friends who can come to your aid in addition to the emergency personnel.
This is assuming you can press the button. But what if you can’t? Fall detection technology works with the use of sensors in the device that measure speed, direction, impact, and movement. They can sense when you fall. If a fall is sensed, the device will automatically send a call to the Command Center and they will get in touch immediately.
If you’re using a home medical alert, you need to be within 600 feet of the base unit for the device to work properly. If you opt for an on-the-go device with fall detection, you have the advantage of GPS, which can help emergency services find you even if you don’t know where you are.
Who Can Benefit from an Emergency Alert System
It’s clear that medical alert wireless alarms can be a boon to the safety, security, and peace of mind of the elderly who want to age in place for as long as they can. The technology allows them to stay independent, knowing that help is just a button press away. But they aren’t the only ones who can benefit from a personal emergency alarm. Here are just a few populations out there who can make good use of a panic button alarm.
College Students
Personal alarm buttons can make an excellent accessory for those on college campuses. Remember, the medical alert watch or pendant calls for help whenever it is needed – it doesn’t have to be help for a senior person. It can also work well as a way to get in touch with emergency services for a friend, to stay safe when on campus or in the surrounding area alone, or when you are in a situation that becomes frightening or dangerous.
The National Center for Education Statistics reported that there were about 28,500 criminal incidents against people or property on college campuses in 2018. That’s a very good reason to have help at your fingertips.
For instance, let’s say you’re walking to your vehicle across an empty parking lot at night. Perhaps you have a whistle with you, attached to your keys. But if there is no one around to hear it, there’s no one to come to your aid if you need help. A dedicated emergency response solution has a very different effect, as it connects you directly to someone who can hear you and determine what assistance you need. You can have the peace of mind that help will come—even if you are unable to communicate for any reason.
It’s important to keep in mind that Alert1 doesn’t impose a charge for multiple button pushes or “false alarms.” That means that any time you feel as though you need help, you can reach out with no penalties at all.
Long-Distance Runners
If you’re a runner who trains extensively for marathons and other endurance sports, you might wind up in rather remote areas, or might even get turned around and lost at some point. Sure, your cell phone might help you with that if you wind up needing assistance, but consider: First, do you really want to carry a cell phone? And second, what if something happens that makes it impossible to use that cell phone?
For example, let’s imagine you’re running along a trail through the woods. Something appears on the trail – something as simple as a tree root pressing up just an inch or so from the ground – and you trip and fall. Your cell phone, which was in your hand on even attached to your body with a Velcro strap, goes flying. At the same time, you realize you didn’t just fall – you’re seriously injured.
If you have a fall alarm on you, help is on the way with a single touch. The person who answers the phone in our Command Center will stay on the line with you until the appropriate help arrives. But what if you fell and for some reason, you can’t press that button? Perhaps you are unconscious. Medical alert systems with fall detection can alert the Command Center of what has happened, even if you can’t. If it has GPS capability as well, your location can be pinpointed immediately. That brings serious peace of mind to those who like to travel off the beaten path.
Those Who Live Alone
No matter your age, if you live on your own, you can find deep peace of mind in knowing that if something ever happened, you could get help immediately. According to the National Safety Council, 14 out of every 100 individuals are injured each year in accidents in the home – and that covers all ages, not just the elderly. Out of those who are injured, about one of every 2,100 people will die from that preventable injury in the home. And though the majority of preventable deaths happen due to poisoning, a whopping 26% are caused by falls[1].
Something like a fall down the stairs with your arms full of laundry or tripping over the family pet when they cross your path can happen to anyone, no matter how physically strong and healthy they might be. When those kinds of accidents happen, you might not have your phone, nor be able to get to one.
If you are wearing a medical alert watch or pendant, you can immediately get help. Simply press the button and wait a few seconds for the device to connect to our dedicated team of professionals. Tell them what has happened and they will assist you. It’s important to remember that a fall sensor comes in very handy here, as you don’t have to worry about pressing the button at all – if you take a serious tumble, the technology in the device will sense what happened and send an alert for you.
Individuals with a History of Seizures
Seizures can often hit without warning. As a result, controlling your body can be difficult, if not impossible, until the seizure has run its course. That means you can easily fall wherever you might happen to be when it hits, without any time to get to a safer place – sometimes you don’t have nearly enough warning to even lie down on the floor where you know you’ll be safer[2].
If you suffer a seizure that leads to you losing control of your body, you will likely fall onto the floor. And when that happens, the fall detection sensor can send an alert for help. Even if no one else is around, a medical alert system can send an alert to the Command Center, and a professional will come on the line. Even if you can’t respond, they will take the appropriate steps to ensure that you get the help you need.
Those Prone to Fainting
There are several conditions or situations that can make a person prone to syncope, which is the medical term for fainting. Syncope can be common among those who have anemia. Though anemia can be a problem in the short-term, such as among those who have just given birth or undergone a surgery in which they lost a great deal of blood, it can also be chronic and long-term, in which the body just doesn’t hold onto or process iron effectively[3].
As a result, those with anemia can suddenly feel quite faint, especially upon standing up from a sitting position. It’s entirely possible to be overtaken by that feeling and fall down as you lose consciousness. Fortunately, a medical alarm’s fall alert option can alert the Command Center even if you don’t press the button as you are starting to fade.
Other issues that can lead to fainting include diabetes, hypoglycemia (when blood sugar drops dangerously low), very low blood pressure, your body adjusting to new medications, or not eating enough during the day. Even something as simple as dehydration or overheating can lead to fainting[4].
No matter what the issue, if you need assistance, your medical alert pendant can bring help to your doorstep as soon as possible. This can bring incredible peace of mind.
When You Get a Difficult Medical Diagnosis
It’s well-known that our odds of developing a chronic medical condition increase as we get older[5]. What about those who are handed a difficult medical diagnosis during their earlier years? For instance, according to the National Institute on Aging, early-onset Alzheimer’s can begin to happen as early as your mid-30s. Some people in their 20s are diagnosed with cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and so much more.
Depending upon the condition, you might have to deal with anything from limited mobility to the sudden onset of side effects from medications. There could be situations where you need assistance but don’t have the ability to use your cell phone or find someone who can help you quickly. In that case, the best medical alert systems can help.
No matter where you are, you can simply press the button on your mobile medical alert pendant or watch, and you will be connected with professionals who know what to do in the event of an emergency. They will assess the situation and decide on the appropriate response. They will contact emergency services, your doctor and care team, your family, or anyone else that you have on your list of people to contact. Then they will stay on the line with you while you wait for that help to arrive. With Alert1, you will never face an emergency alone.
Both seniors and others can benefit from medical alert systems. Don’t hesitate to get the affordable peace of mind that can enhance your life and bring peace of mind and security, no matter what your age is. Here’s to your safety and well-being!