Emergency Response Systems

Saving Lives and Promoting Independent Living

In virtually any type of medical emergency, getting help immediately is the single most important factor in helping to ensure recovery. Whether it's a heart attack, stroke, fall or any other emergency situation, being able to get treatment started right away is critically important - because every minute counts.

Heart Attack

Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: "Fast action is your best weapon against a heart attack, because clot-busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. They can prevent or limit damage to the heart - but they need to be given immediately after symptoms begin. The sooner they are started, the more good they will do - and the greater the chances are for survival and a full recovery.

"To be most effective, they need to be given ideally within one hour of the start of heart attack symptoms. But most heart attack victims wait two hours or more after their symptoms begin before they seek medical help. This delay can result in death or permanent heart damage - damage that can greatly reduce the ability to do everyday activities."

Stroke

Strokes are the number three cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious disability. Guidelines released by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association say that intravenous delivery of the clot-busting drug tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) is still the best treatment for patients in the crucial first few hours after an ischemic stroke. But tPA is only approved to be used within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. According to Dr. Harold P. Adams Jr., chairman of the group that wrote the guidelines, "We are pushing for the fastest possible treatment, because 'time is brain.' For every minute that goes by, the likelihood of a poorer outcome increases."

And two studies presented at the American Stroke Association's 2008 International Stroke Conference showed that calling a patient's primary care doctor first - rather than getting emergency medical help at the first sign of a stroke - often can cause a significant delay in reaching an emergency room during those first three hours.

Hip Fracture

In most cases of hip fracture, hospitalization and surgery are required. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: "When you break your hip, it usually hurts too much to stand, and your leg may turn outward or shorten. Immediate medical attention should be sought." The pain and lack of mobility, however, often make it difficult to get to a phone to call for help.

Unfortunately, being able to get help immediately in a medical emergency often can be a challenge for older adults or people with disabilities who live alone - and it can make the difference between being able to stay at home and be independent, or having to enter full-time nursing care.

Not being able to get to the phone, dial it - or talk - could mean lying alone for hours (or even days!), and the situation could become life threatening. When that happens, complications can set in, and recovery becomes much more difficult.

(NOTE: Carrying a cell phone in the house can offer a false sense of security. The pain, paralysis or confusion resulting from a stroke or heart attack can make actually dialing a cell phone difficult or impossible.)

Emergency Response Systems

An emergency response system offers an easy and effective way to get medical attention quickly, even when using the phone is not an option. The basic components of almost all such systems are:

A small button that the user wears, typically on a pendant or wrist band. If help is needed, he or she squeezes the button, which sends a signal to:

An intercom, usually about the size of an answering machine, that is installed between any phone in the user's home and the wall jack. This electronic device then places a call for help that is answered by someone in an office or call center.

Beyond this similarity in technology, however, there can be significant differences in price, as well as in the level and quality of service provided, so it is very important to carefully compare the advantages and disadvantages of specific systems before selecting the one you will rely on for getting you help when you need it at any hour of day or night. Here are some questions to ask:

Hardware

1. Is the button waterproof? (Many falls occur in the bathtub or shower.)
2. Is the hardware compatible with internet-based phone services?
3. Up to how far away from the intercom can the signal from the button be picked up?
4. What kind of backup battery is available in case of power failure?
5. Is the condition of the battery in the button monitored regularly and replaced as necessary?
6. Will the system work if the phone is off the hook?
7. Is there a way to allow the user to get medical assistance when he or she is away from home?

Handling the Calls

1. Is the company's primary focus on responding to medical emergencies?
2. Who is responsible for actually answering the calls for help? Are they employees or volunteers? Or is this responsibility subcontracted elsewhere?
3. Where are they located - in the United States or overseas?
4. What type of training do they receive, and for how long?
5. Are they trained to be able to assess the severity of the situation?
6. What is the ratio of emergency dispatchers to members?

Protocol

1. When a new user signs up for coverage, does the company get his or her full medical history (including medications), doctor's name and number etc.?
2. After getting a call, does the company representative first contact a "responder" (usually a neighbor or friend) to assess the situation before emergency help is called?
3. Does the company representative stay on the line with the user until help arrives, no matter how long that might take?
4. Are paramedics automatically contacted, regardless of the nature of the situation?
5. In an emergency, does the company go through 911, or do they call directly to the closest paramedics to the person's home?

Other Types of Service

1. Does the company work with local police departments in case of home invasion?
2. Is 24/7 monitored fire protection offered, so that the fire department is contacted in case of fire?
3. Is there 24/7 monitored carbon monoxide protection?
4. Is help available for non-emergency situations?
5. Is the service portable, allowing the user to take it on vacations?

Cost

1. Is the user required to purchase the system, or is it provided on a rental basis?
2. If there is a monthly payment, is the amount locked in, or are there periodic increases?
3. Is there a usage fee or a charge for false alarms?
4. If the user were to move, is there an additional charge for transferring the service?
5. Does the user receive a written agreement outlining all of the terms of the service?

If either you or someone you love lives alone at home - or if there are times when no one else is in the house to provide assistance - you should seriously consider the lifesaving protection offered by an emergency response system. Because getting immediate medical care is the single most important factor in recovery from virtually any emergency, an emergency response system can be the difference between life and death, or between continuing to live at home and moving to a nursing home. And the peace of mind that comes with knowing that help will always be available is, in itself, an invaluable asset.

Source: Jack Armstrong, Emergency Response Northwest - (c) 2008, 503-452-8200

Posted April 2008. Markets: National, Oregon, Portland, Salem