Is Your Emergency Response System Reliable? Find Out
Old age is marked by a gradual decline in bone density and muscle strength. Due to the degeneration of vital organs, it’s important to actively monitor your vulnerable family members and ensure they’re in perfect health.
That’s where medical emergency response and alert systems come in.
Medical alert systems are equipment designed to summon medical assistance in the event of medical emergencies, such as falls and fire incidents. They typically include a wearable or mobile unit, a stationary base station, and a monitoring center.
The efficacy of emergency response systems is exemplified by the industry’s rapid growth rate. According to 6WResearch, the Canadian medical alert market is poised to grow tremendously from 2024 to 2030.
One way to make the most of emergency response systems is to purchase them from reputable brands and follow the manufacturer’s installation guidelines. However, investing in high-end medical alarm systems doesn’t always guarantee their reliability. To ensure the unit rises to the occasion when required, regular efficiency tests are paramount.
Here are various ways to gauge the reliability of your emergency response system.
1. Test the Base Station’s Power Transmission Capabilities
Most emergency response systems come with a base station that plugs into power outlets and your property’s landline phone jack (for landline-based systems). This is the central hub of the unit, and its efficiency determines the overall performance of other components within the system.
After carefully installing your emergency response system following the manufacturer’s guidelines, the next step is to test the base station for power transmission.
To go about that, plug the base unit into a power outlet and watch out for small vibrations. The vibrations would be followed by a series of red, green, and/or blue flashes to indicate that the device is connected.
Now, cut off the power supply and check if the lights go off.
Note that the type of vibration and light flashes will depend on your specific emergency response system.
2. Test the Base Station for Internet Connectivity
A medical alert system’s base unit relies heavily on internet connectivity. Since emergency signals should be automatically transmitted to monitoring centers, it’s imperative that the base station connects seamlessly to the available internet.
You can test for internet connectivity by plugging your base station’s power cord into a power outlet and watching out for the LED light patterns.
In most devices, red flashes indicate zero connectivity, while green denotes stable connection. Shades of amber may indicate spotty Wi-Fi whereas the absence of any flash suggests the unit is yet to establish internet connectivity.
3. Perform a Range Test
Emergency response systems fall into two categories, depending on their flexibility and convenience. They include at-home and on-the-go alert devices.
At-home medical alarm systems provide monitoring to your vulnerable family members who’re home alone and need ongoing assistance. Meanwhile, on-the-go units offer protection within and beyond a home environment.
The good news is that many brands provide hybrid suites that include both at-home and on-the-go systems. Still, the surest way to gauge the devices’ reliability is by performing a range test.
First, you’ll need to understand your alert system’s maximum range. That may vary from 100 to 1000+ feet, depending on the chosen device.
Next, power up your base station and turn on the internet connection. Ask someone to stay by the base station while you roam with your wearable alert device around the unit’s stated radius.
You know your medical alert system is working if the base station beeps whenever the wearable is within that range.
4. Conduct an Operator/Dispatch Test
Congratulations for picking an emergency response system that connects to the local power and internet. It’s even better that the unit can pick signals when you’re within the stated range.
However, these achievements still do not provide solid assurance that someone will respond to your loved ones’ distress calls. The only way to obtain that assurance is by conducting an operator test.
Press the help button on your base station or wearable device. This will prompt the system to relay emergency signals to your monitoring center.
An operator should contact you immediately to inquire further about your distress call. You can then inform them that you were simply testing your emergency response system. If you don’t, the operator will go ahead and coordinate dispatch. It’s probably best not to let things escalate to this stage, much as it provides the surest proof of your system’s efficiency.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Medical Alert Systems
Testing your emergency response system’s reliability means nothing if you don’t invest in premium devices.
Therefore, insist on equipment by reputable brands. Sample online reviews and testimonials for valuable insights into a brand’s reliability.
Next, consider medical alert providers that maintain round-the-clock support staff. The last thing you want is a company that takes forever to reply to your queries.
It’s also prudent to choose monitored rather than unmonitored medical alert systems. Monitored systems connect your loved ones’ distress calls directly to trained professionals, improving the outcome of emergency responses.
Other key considerations include seamless internet connectivity and compatibility with other health apps.
Summary
Medical emergencies have a way of striking unannounced. Therefore, you deserve an emergency response system that can kick in and deliver when activated.
Always proceed cautiously while shopping for medical alert systems. Insist on devices manufactured by reputable brands, and whose efficiency has been attested to by thousands of previous users.
More importantly, test your emergency response system regularly to ensure the optimal functionality of all components.