
This is what you should know about emergency medical alert devices
Recently, OurSeniors.net published an article that reviewed several of the new, high-tech wearable devices that can monitor a senior’s vital signs. These devices can keep track of measurements like heart rate and blood pressure, respiration and even observe exercise and sleep patterns. Emergency-use “Medical Alert” devices are a related topic, perhaps of greater interest. While a fitness or activity tracker can improve a senior’s health, medical alert devices can literally make the difference between life and death.
The Life Alert Program, a service dating back to 1972, states that on average, it intervenes in one life-threatening situation every 10 minutes. Its ad line, “Help, I’ve fallen and can’t get up,” is one of the best-known commercial dialogues of all time. The original device was a pendant-shaped gadget, worn on a wristband or as a necklace. As you would expect, these devices have come a long way since the 1970’s. Beyond instant emergency assistance, today’s alert technology can offer a variety of...