Using A Cellular Medical Alarm With GPS Can Save Lives

By Sally Delacruz


The generation that became known as baby boomers vowed during the sixties to never grow old, but that promise has predictably evaporated. Today, this aging demographic group is most concerned about the issues of independent senior living, including the realistic possibility of needing to call for emergency medical attention. Having access to a cellular medical alarm with GPS helps assuage those fears.

Alarmingly, one in three senior citizens falls each year. Although some try to hide this fact from their doctors in an effort to avoid losing personal autonomy, falls are the primary cause of significant injury in older people, often leading to hospitalizations and permanent disability. If an accident occurs when alone, there is a good chance that help might not arrive until it is too late.

Demand for a personal, easy-to-use alarm system that automatically summons an ambulance originally prompted the earliest development of these devices. Pioneering models used a simple network featuring a remotely activated speaker phone. When active, it could connect directly via a hands-free land line to an emergency dispatch center. This was a great improvement, but still had limited range and portability issues.

Not long afterward, communications pendants were added to the product lineup. These small electronic links could connect directly to a speakerphone by push-button, not by shouting. Although limited to use in the home, they are still popular and cost-effective. Newer models make it possible to call for help even when the victim cannot speak. Some companies offer monitoring, while others call 911 directly.

While these advances have been valuable, there are additional features that were not available until recently. Standard alarms previously worked only at home, but are now able to summon assistance no matter where the user may go. They do this by linking the wearable units directly to the existing cell phone network, and use GPS location capabilities to determine the physical location of the victim.

Although there are concerns about digital surveillance, this is one form of tracking that has been welcomed. All smart-phones today come with the GPS tracking activated, and most users do not take the time to deactivate that feature. Based on the last recorded call, satellites are able to triangulate a signal between cell towers, revealing its precise origin.

If an older person becomes ill, pushing the call button automatically determines their whereabouts, while displaying pertinent personal information. The service allows direct voice communication, and works anywhere there is cell coverage, which today is nearly everywhere. The units are not bulky, but are small enough to be worn under clothing, are easy to read, and waterproof.

It is now even possible to relay pertinent medical information directly to first responders, making field treatment safer and more accurate. Even if a senior citizen has no idea where he or she actually is, assistance can still be on the way in a short time. Similar to cell phones, these units need recharging every few days, but that is a small price to pay for greater peace of mind.




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