If your grandparents had some type of medical emergency back in the day, they probably either had to dial 0 on their rotary phone to be connected with an operator, or one of them had to dash to the neighbor’s house to ask for assistance. Emergency services was born in 1968 and has improved significantly over the past half century. Here are some tips with how to clearly communicate with emergency services in the event you need them.
In tandem with emergency services, thanks to the advent of some pretty amazing technology, people who are dealing with a life-threatening emergency can quickly and easily get the help they require.
Mobile Medical Alert Systems
While calling 911 is definitely a useful tool, if someone has fallen to the floor and is unable to reach the phone, or if they are away from home and without a smartphone, calling 911 may not be an option.
Thanks to medical alert system technology that is now portable and super easy to use, people who are dealing with a medical emergency can easily get help, no matter where they are located. The Lively Mobile medical alert device, for example, can be worn around the neck with a magnetic lanyard or carried in a pocket or purse. If the wearer needs emergency help, he or she merely needs to press the 5Star Urgent Response button on the device to be connected with certified 5Star agents who can confirm a location, evaluate the situation and send help. Whether someone is experiencing chest pain in their living room, is lost in an unfamiliar part of town and feeling confused, or is experiencing another medical issue, the Lively Mobile portable medical alert system can help.
Web-connected Panic Buttons
Another innovative technological device that can help in an emergency situation works by harnessing the GPS power of the user’s smartphone. The Wearsafe Tag is a small wearable panic button that makes the person’s phone emit an SOS during an emergency. When the Wearsafe Tag is activated, the Bluetooth-equipped gadget that is linked to the user’s smartphone will send out the person’s location via GPS through the accompanying app, along with a minute’s worth of audio from right before the button was pressed, to the people they have chosen to alert.
Of course, the Wearsafe Tag assumes that the friends and family members you select to receive the alerts will be able to quickly act on them and call 911 on your behalf, if need be, but for those who wish to have an emergency alert system that is easy to use, a web-connected panic button is definitely a good option. This is great for people who hike or explore new places alone.
Emergency Response Apps
There are numerous emergency and personal safety apps that can be downloaded to a smartphone and don’t require the user to wear something. Some apps are designed to be used in the event of a natural disaster, such as Life360, which lets everyone in your private network know you’re safe at the click of a button. Others, like the ICE app, allow first responders and hospital staff to access your emergency information without unlocking your phone.
If your parents or grandparents are getting to an age where you worry, consider a medical alert device of some sort — whether a subscription or on the web. These can make for good peace of mind for seniors and their families.
