Any experience with Life Alert

[dave1949]

It's never difficult from a physical standpoint, for my EMS crews to enter a locked door - we'll have it open in about 5 seconds. There is a psychological barrier to breaking a window or popping a door, however. I always am second guessing - what if it's the wrong house, or a false alarm?

"Key under the planter"....which planter? There may be 5 of them on the porch. My suggestion is a Knox Box with a key inside. In my department, the engine and the rescue both have Knox keys on them so we can access the box.

Knox Box sounds like a good way to go rather than getting a combination.

I think the second guessing enters into it. People don't want to bust up someone's door or break a window if they can avoid it, and it's an address that has a history of calls that turn out to be non-life threatening. It could probably be better managed by our local VFD/EMS but that's above my retired guy-volunteer helper pay grade.

It's darn good info for the OP to consider.

 

[Sigarms]

Nothing is fool proof.

Agreed, but simpler the better. One push of a single button, someone is able to talk to you, and if you can't speak back to the person, they know where you are at, and will call for the proper help if you can't respond. THAT'S what I'm looking for.

My father found my mothers sister (widow, no children) dead in her (sisters) house some years back (happened to be my Godmother as well). She apparently was dead for more than a couple of days, and from what my father had said, it looked like it was painful. Fact is, no one was there to help her, and God only knows how long she was by herself with no one around. I can handle my father dying, but I don't want it to be when he needs help and can't get it (fact is, we bought our house with a furnished basement so dad could move in years ago and that plan didn't work out LMAO). The only thing I can do is take precautions. I was lucky enough to catch a flight and see my mom the last day she was alive and talk to her. We figured my dad wouldn't make it a year without her, BUT I promised mom that I would look after my father. That's why I tell my dad I'm a pain in his arse sometimes LOL

My father was just telling me today his golfing buddies were having some beers after a round and were wondering about him and called him. He had a pretty big smile on his face talking about the call. I realize his day to day life isn't with me, but with his friends as long as he feels like he's up to it. He still feels up to it.

 

[txdon]

How do the life alerts send the signal? Can it still operate where a cell phone cannot when traveling? Out here a verizon signal cannot get out but an AT&T can.

 

[dave1949]

Agreed, but simpler the better. One push of a single button, someone is able to talk to you, and if you can't speak back to the person, they know where you are at, and will call for the proper help if you can't respond. THAT'S what I'm looking for.

I'm all for doing what you can to improve the odds. I don't mean to sound negative about that. Just saying it comes with unforeseen complications and trying to give some examples to help you avoid them.

It would be good to speak with who ever is running the emergency responder service in your Dad's location. Find out what their procedures are, and if there is whatever you can do to facilitate the best results.

 

[GPintheMitten]

How do the life alerts send the signal? Can it still operate where a cell phone cannot when traveling? Out here a verizon signal cannot get out but an AT&T can.

It's my understanding that these devices are short range and communicate to a base station attached to your home phone. It would typically cover you in the house and possibly in your own yard.

 

[Sigarms]

It's my understanding that these devices are short range and communicate to a base station attached to your home phone. It would typically cover you in the house and possibly in your own yard.

My understanding from Alert one is that the device you could wear around your neck is the signal device to denote you're in trouble, also the communication device where you would talk to a "command center" of some sort, as well as a GPS device to give those you're talking to a location to where you are at, so they can call the proper people. This is from thier "GPS" unit.

 

[murphy1244]

My Mother has the Life alert and it saved her life twice. It calls emergency and I get a call. She also uses the key box and some kind of kit with info she keeps on the fridge door.

 

[GPintheMitten]

My understanding from Alert one is that the device you could wear around your neck is the signal device to denote you're in trouble, also the communication device where you would talk to a "command center" of some sort, as well as a GPS device to give those you're talking to a location to where you are at, so they can call the proper people. This is from thier "GPS" unit.

Ok, I was only familiar with their home model. I see they now also offer a mobile device.
From their site "You can take it anywhere in the country with T-Mobile cellular coverage and we’ll get you help if you need it."

 

[txdon]

It's my understanding that these devices are short range and communicate to a base station attached to your home phone. It would typically cover you in the house and possibly in your own yard.

If you are in an area where there is no land line or driving the alert is useless?

 

[newbury]

How do the life alerts send the signal? Can it still operate where a cell phone cannot when traveling? Out here a verizon signal cannot get out but an AT&T can.

In my area in Mississippi AT&T is spotty, verizon is better and T-Mobile is useless.

Ok, I was only familiar with their home model. I see they now also offer a mobile device.
From their site "You can take it anywhere in the country with T-Mobile cellular coverage and we値l get you help if you need it."

If you can get T-Mobile.

Agreed, but simpler the better. One push of a single button, someone is able to talk to you, and if you can't speak back to the person, they know where you are at, and will call for the proper help if you can't respond. THAT'S what I'm looking for.

My father found my mothers sister (widow, no children) dead in her (sisters) house some years back (happened to be my Godmother as well). She apparently was dead for more than a couple of days, and from what my father had said, it looked like it was painful. Fact is, no one was there to help her, and God only knows how long she was by herself with no one around. I can handle my father dying, but I don't want it to be when he needs help and can't get it (fact is, we bought our house with a furnished basement so dad could move in years ago and that plan didn't work out LMAO).

That's how my Grandfather passed in about '78. Within 100 yards of the house, fell in deep grass because of a blood clot in his leg. Wasn't discovered until many hours later, clot went to his brain and killed him. If he had a Life alert thingy he would have lived probably another 20 years.