How Do Medical Alarms Work?
A medical alarm is a device that is worn on your body and in an emergency it can transmit a
signal to someone who can summon help. The purpose of a medical alarm is to help you feel safe in your own home. It is a comfort to know that you can get help whenever you might need it.
There are three essential parts to a medical alarm system:
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Put simply, it works like this...
You carry a 'button' (transmitter) at all times and you press it if you need help for any reason. You might have
had an accident like a fall or perhaps there has been a medical emergency like a heart attack. Or perhaps you are simply feeling
anxious.
Once you have pushed the button it contacts a speaker box, also called a medical alert base unit, which is
connected to your home telephone line.
The base unit automatically dials the medical alarm monitoring center, which is open 24 hours a day, and a
trained operator answers the call. This all takes place within about 30 seconds.
The operator speaks to you through the speaker box and listens to what you have to say. If the emergency
services are needed they will be called, or maybe you simply need to call a relative.
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The most common use for medical alarms is as a safeguard for the elderly. It provides a sense
of security and a greater degree of confidence in carrying out daily tasks. It is estimated that over one third of elderly people have a fall at
some point in their old age and if they are at home alone they may be unable to get up by themselves. While seniors are the ones most likely to
use a medical alarm they can also be used by, for example, the injured or disabled.
The best time to protect a senior with a medical alert device is before any problem occurs.
Don't wait until an emergency occurs. Once an elderly person has fallen and has waited hours for help their confidnce is badly shaken.
The system consists of two parts: the equipment provided for your use and the alarm monitoring service provided by
the company.
Your personal medical alarm comes with a pendant for you to wear around your neck or on your wrist or waist and a
base unit that connects to your telephone line. The base unit contains a powerful loudspeaker and sensitive microphone to allow two-way
contact.
Your call will connect you to a monitoring station where you can communicate with an operator
without having to move. The operator will then call a pre-arranged contact or an ambulance if required.
The core of any medical alert system is the central monitoring and response service center. Whenever an
emergency call is made by a client an operator calls back the number to discover the problem.Operators are
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Often the operator will stay on the phone with you until medical help arrives at your home.
There are several types of medical alert systems and numerous companies who all provide their own
range of prices and service. The medical alarm companies earn their income by charging a monthly monitoring fee. Many companies, but
not all, also charge an installation fee. Read the material from each company and also speak to them to find out about
the services they supply. Whichever company you choose you are not likely to have any problem with the
equipment itself. The difference lies in the service quality of the companies. This can vary a lot.
All the issues above and more are covered in greater detail on other pages of this web
site.
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Medical Alarm World 
