Whether it's falls, cuts, or electrical accidents – there are numerous ways to sustain an injury in your own home. Older people are particularly at risk. In addition, they often suffer from illnesses that can lead to acute medical emergencies. Examples include cardiovascular diseases, but also COPD or diabetes. Despite their vulnerability, many seniors understandably want to remain in their familiar surroundings. They resist moving to assisted living or even a nursing home. To ensure they can still navigate daily life safely, they should consider installing an emergency call system. The One Button Phone, for example, offers a special emergency call function for seniors that can be conveniently activated with the push of a button.
Making an emergency call – this is what matters
In a medical emergency, dial 112. This is the emergency call center responsible for the fire department and ambulances. This number is valid throughout Europe. The operator at the emergency call center will ask you a series of questions:
- Where are you located?
- What happened?
- How many people are affected?
- What injuries are present or what symptoms does the affected person have?
Try to answer everything as accurately as possible. This information helps emergency responders better prepare for the emergency. Don't be afraid to call. The staff is trained and will guide you through the conversation step by step. If you don't know something, it's not the end of the world.
When am I allowed to make an emergency call?
Older people, in particular, are often unsure whether they truly have a medical emergency and hesitate to call an ambulance. In the worst-case scenario, this can cost them their lives. Therefore, always dial 112 if your life is in danger or if you cannot assess the severity of the situation. You are not a medical professional. Therefore, no one expects you to know for sure whether or not you need an ambulance. Typical reasons for calling emergency services include:
- heart attack
- Cardiac arrest
- stroke
- poisoning
- heavy bleeding
- severe burns
If you feel there is no immediate threat, you can first contact your family doctor or, outside of office hours, call 116117. This is the on-call medical service.
What happens if I can't make an emergency call?
Some injuries or illnesses can render affected individuals incapacitated. Severe falls or significant blood loss, for example, can lead to unconsciousness. In such cases, you can only hope that someone else calls emergency services for you or purchase an emergency watch with fall detection .
The One Button Phone is a top-notch choice! You can wear it on your wrist like a watch, so it accompanies you in all situations. Special sensors ensure that the device reacts to falls and then automatically places an emergency call. This means you don't need to be fully alert or even conscious to inform your emergency contact.
By the way, with the One Button Phone you don't have to specify 112 as your emergency contact. You decide who gets called. This could also be a relative who, as part of the emergency call, will also receive a text message with your current location. They can then alert the emergency services and tell them exactly where you are.
What makes an emergency call system suitable for seniors?
The emergency call should be easy to make without requiring extensive technical knowledge or navigating a menu. Emergency phones with a clearly visible emergency button are particularly well-suited. There are special phones, smartphones, and even smartwatches that feature an SOS button, making them ideal for seniors. The One Button Phone effortlessly meets the needs of older adults, offering not only an emergency call button but also many practical functions. Among other things, the device can determine your location, measure your blood pressure, and count your steps – and to ensure you never oversleep again, it even has an alarm function. It's much more than just an emergency call device, but its integrated SOS button is its standout feature!
The emergency telephone as a lifesaver in numerous dangerous situations
Health problems increase with age. At the same time, the risk of falls rises. Older people can therefore quickly find themselves in dangerous situations where they require medical assistance. A mobile emergency call system for seniors provides greater security. It gives people living alone or elderly couples a sense of autonomy and independence, while also having a reassuring effect on family members. In many cases, they can sleep more soundly simply knowing that their elderly relative has access to a senior-friendly emergency phone at any time. After all, there are a number of scenarios that could, at least theoretically, pose a threat to life and limb.
A heart attack – a life-threatening situation
Sudden chest pain, numbness in the left arm, nausea, cold sweats, and shortness of breath – all of these can be signs of a heart attack. Therefore, you should always call emergency services immediately if you experience these symptoms. While they can also indicate other illnesses, they should always be investigated. It's better to call emergency services too often than not often enough!
Rapid assistance is essential.
Don't hesitate to seek medical help if you experience one or more of the symptoms mentioned above. A heart attack doesn't have to be fatal, but it can be. Complications such as ventricular fibrillation or cardiogenic shock are responsible. The faster you receive treatment, the better. However, in the case of an acute heart attack, you may experience disorientation or even motor problems.
Especially when you're home alone, making an emergency call isn't always easy. In such situations, the One Button Phone becomes a lifesaver. With it, you can conveniently wear your personal emergency call system for seniors on your wrist. You simply press and hold the large, blue button on the display, and you'll be connected to your first emergency contact.
Since the One Button Phone conveniently features a hands-free function, you can speak freely with your emergency contact. So it's not a problem at all if you lack the strength to hold the small phone to your ear.
Women get heart attacks too!
The misconception that heart attacks primarily affect men is still widespread. In fact, until menopause, women are better protected against heart disease than men due to their hormones. However, this protection diminishes in later life, and they can be just as susceptible. Because they often present with different symptoms than their male peers, they frequently dismiss these symptoms. Even doctors sometimes find it difficult to correctly diagnose heart attacks in women. Typical symptoms in women include back pain, depression, night sweats, or sudden fatigue. They may also experience upper abdominal pain or chest tightness.
Stroke – a race against time
Just like heart attacks, strokes are also occurring more frequently in the older population. In most cases, they are caused by the blockage of a blood vessel in the brain, leading to an immediate lack of oxygen. The consequences can be devastating, as the brain is damaged almost immediately.
Pay attention to these symptoms
A stroke often causes paralysis on one side of the body. Numbness and visual disturbances are also warning signs. Other people might notice that one side of the affected person's face is drooping or that their speech is suddenly slurred. In addition, severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty understanding speech can occur.
If you notice these signs in yourself or someone around you, you should call emergency services immediately! You can use the One Button Phone on your wrist for this. You don't even have to leave the room or dial a number – one press of a button is all it takes.
If you are alone in the room and fall due to a stroke, for example, because you lose consciousness, the One Button Phone once again proves its worth with its fall detection feature! Incidentally, you can adjust the sensitivity of this feature to suit your individual needs.
Apply the FAST test
Do you still live with your partner? Then it's possible that your partner could also have a stroke. The FAST test can quickly help you determine if the situation is serious:
- Ask the person to smile. If their face looks strangely distorted, this indicates paralysis.
- Instruct the person to extend their arms forward, with their palms facing upward. If they can only raise one arm, this also indicates paralysis.
- Say a sentence to the person. If they cannot repeat it clearly, that's a warning sign.
- Call an ambulance as soon as possible! The more time passes, the greater the risk of severe brain damage.
If you are so overwhelmed that you cannot remember the test or are simply unable to perform it, call emergency services anyway. You can also use the One Button Phone for this.
Shortness of breath – immediate medical evaluation required
Acute shortness of breath is also a common emergency that prompts seniors to call emergency services. This is hardly surprising, as this condition can be life-threatening. Medical personnel can provide the patient with oxygen and, if necessary, save their life. Always call emergency services if shortness of breath occurs suddenly and is accompanied by chest pain, fever, or shock. Since the accompanying symptoms can sometimes be severe, it's not always easy to stay calm. That's why the One Button Phone is a lifesaver in such situations. Simply reach for your wrist and press the large button on the display until the emergency call is connected.
Possible causes of shortness of breath
Acute shortness of breath can be caused by various medical conditions, many of which occur more frequently in old age:
- Chronic lung diseases such as COPD or asthma
- Respiratory tract infection
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- anemia
- cardiac arrhythmia
- Circulatory disorder of the heart
Many of these conditions are treatable. Often, the prognosis is better if they are detected early. Therefore, be sure to attend your regular check-ups with your family doctor. However, if an emergency with acute respiratory distress does occur, you will certainly be glad to know that you can call for help at any time with the One Button Phone.
Falls – a major risk for seniors
Falls can be harmless or have far-reaching consequences. Depending on the injuries sustained in a fall, it can even be fatal. Severe head injuries or significant blood loss require immediate medical attention. Since seniors fall considerably more often than younger people, purchasing a mobile emergency call system for seniors is worthwhile for this reason alone.
Emergency call for seniors combined with fall detection
After a bad fall, you may be unconscious or severely confused. Making an emergency call yourself would then be impossible. In such a situation, you would benefit once again from a senior-friendly emergency call device with fall detection. Just like with an emergency call you initiate yourself, the One Button Phone sends your location to your emergency contact in the event of a fall.
Reduce the risk of falls in the home
One of the reasons why seniors fall so frequently is declining muscle strength and reduced coordination. However, you can reduce the risk somewhat by minimizing tripping hazards:
- Remove slippery carpets and bath mats.
- Install grab bars in the shower or next to the toilet.
- Create clear walkways in your apartment.
- Remove any loose cables.
- Make sure your apartment is well lit.
- Motion detectors might be useful for nighttime trips to the toilet.
You can also reduce your risk of falls by staying active and taking plenty of walks. Balance exercises and strength training can also work wonders. Did you know that the One Button Phone has a built-in pedometer ? So it not only functions as an emergency call device for seniors, but can also help you incorporate more activity into your daily routine.
Another reason for frequent falls could be incorrect medication. For example, if you have been prescribed a new blood pressure medication and now find yourself experiencing frequent dizziness and falling constantly, you should speak with your doctor. They may be able to prescribe a different medication.
Other critical situations – what else can happen
We've already listed quite a few dangerous situations for you. Unfortunately, the list is much longer. In fact, there are many other scenarios in which an emergency call can be a lifesaver for seniors:
- Severe bleeding: You slipped while chopping vegetables and cut yourself deeply. The wound just won't stop bleeding. Before you lose consciousness, you should call emergency services immediately. Until help arrives, you should apply pressure to the wound as much as possible.
- Allergic shock: It can lead to numerous life-threatening symptoms, including severe shortness of breath, an extreme drop in blood pressure, and swelling. Act quickly!
- Severe abdominal pain: Sudden, acute abdominal pain accompanied by vomiting, high fever, and a hard, tender abdomen is a medical emergency. It could be appendicitis, an intestinal obstruction, or a perforated ulcer. You must go to the emergency room immediately!
- Fainting: If you suddenly faint, there can be various reasons. While some are harmless, others have a more serious underlying cause. Don't leave it to chance and use your home emergency call system for seniors!
In the aforementioned cases, you can request medical assistance using an emergency phone. However, the One Button Phone is not only a useful companion in life-threatening situations; it also helps you with everyday mishaps.
For example, if you've locked yourself out, missed the last bus, or simply can't find your way home, the small watch on your wrist will once again be a shining savior. You can easily contact your emergency contact and get help from them in an emergency.
Since the One Button Phone can be combined with a SIM card of your choice, it is not only suitable as an emergency call solution for home, but is also always there when you are on the go.
Get an emergency phone and be prepared
An emergency call system for seniors can be implemented in various ways. You likely have a regular telephone at home that you can use to alert emergency services in an emergency. However, we believe a mobile and therefore flexible emergency call system for seniors is a better option. You can also use a smartphone or smartwatch for emergency calls when you leave the house.
However, there is a problem here, as not every senior citizen is keen to deal with newfangled technology in their old age. Some also suffer from visual impairments or motor limitations, which makes operating the devices even more complicated.
The One Button Phone, on the other hand, is a simple solution that offers the convenience and advantages of a modern smartwatch, but in a much simpler design. Only one button is needed for operation! The watch is worn on the wrist with a strap, so it's less likely to get misplaced.
To ensure your emergency call system for seniors actually works, you should take a number of precautions. For example, make sure the battery is sufficiently charged and update your emergency contacts.
Charge the battery regularly
The One Button Phone is only a reliable emergency call device for seniors if you charge it regularly. This is true for any other type of mobile emergency call device for seniors as well. Fortunately, the One Button Phone's battery lasts up to four days. Depending on how you use the device, it may run out sooner.
The battery level is also displayed in the accompanying family app . If one of your family members installs the app on their smartphone, they can check the battery level and remind you when it needs recharging.
Always wear your watch on your wrist
With the One Button Phone, you can create an emergency call system for seniors that's always right there on your person. However, you do need to wear the watch for this to work. It's best to get into the habit of putting it on first thing in the morning after waking up. If you want to benefit from the fall detection feature during nighttime trips to the bathroom, you should also wear the watch while you sleep. However, this can make charging a bit more difficult. In that case, it might be a good idea to have two devices.
Update emergency contacts as needed
It's quite possible that you'll only use your mobile emergency call device rarely. But when the time comes, everything should go smoothly. Therefore, always keep your emergency contacts up to date. If anything changes, provide the new number immediately. For example, your primary emergency contact might move to another city or end up in the hospital themselves and no longer be able to help you.
Choosing the right mobile provider
A mobile emergency call system for seniors uses the mobile network. Therefore, you will need to purchase a SIM card. We include a Vodafone SIM card with the One Button Phone. Since this provider offers excellent network coverage, it is also ideally suited for many users. However, you should still check beforehand which networks are available in your immediate vicinity. After all, it would be very frustrating if your emergency calls didn't go through because you live in a dead zone.
