Alarms are often used to alert the surrounding area of an emergency – the loud noise will bring the attention of others. However, these types of alarms are of no use if you live far away from other people. In situations like this, a personal alarm system is useful.

Personal alarm systems are devices that provide instant connection with help and medical services if required. They can be used to alert someone, such as neighbours, relatives, friends or a monitoring centre in an emergency. This system of monitoring ensures the safety of individuals at risk, specially the elderly, the sick and those who are recuperating after surgery. It offers reassurance and peace of mind for individuals and their families. With a personal alarm system, you are assured that your loved ones can communicate with you 24 hours, 7 days a week. Having a personal alarm system gives the elderly and the sick an independent lifestyle.

Most monitored systems consist of an attachment to a home phone, which receives signals from a pendant or other device. Once pressed, the signals are sent to a monitoring centre, which has trained staff on call all the time. The staff will usually have a medical history of the client, that is, if the client is suffering from any diseases or is old. This information can then be passed onto ambulance staff if required.

In most personal alarm systems, there are three parts: the panic button, the base unit, and the response centre. The panic button is available as a medical bracelet or a pendant on a necklace and can be worn by the user at all times. The panic button is waterproof, meaning that it can even be worn in the shower, where most accidents are likely to happen. The button can be worn anywhere in the vicinity of the house – upstairs, downstairs and even in the garden.

When the panic button is pressed, it activates the medical alert base unit, which can be plugged into any telephone jack. This is via a wireless radio signal that communicates with the base unit. The medical alarm system immediately calls the response centre, where an attendant will speak to the user through the base unit’s two way voice speaker. After the user explains the emergency, the response centre attendant then alerts the personal responders such as family, friends or neighbours within minutes. If the response centre cannot reach any of your emergency contacts, they will call the emergency services (such as an ambulance) on your behalf.