Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through your chest. All at once you feel dizzy and can barely breathe. Perhaps you've even fallen and broken a leg. In all these cases, it's essential to call emergency services. Here we'll tell you what you should keep in mind, which emergency numbers are available, and which emergency call systems are suitable for seniors.

With the One Button Phone, even seniors can easily alert emergency services and make an emergency call from their own home! The small device is worn like a wristwatch, so you always have it with you. If a medical emergency occurs or you need help for any other reason, simply use the SOS emergency call function and you will be connected to your emergency contact.

An emergency can happen that quickly

Spending one's later years in one's own home – that's what many seniors want. Thanks to innovative emergency call systems with fall detection, this is often possible. As people age, various emergencies can happen quickly. Here are a few examples:

• Many older people are no longer as steady on their feet and fall easily. If you can no longer get up on your own or have even seriously injured yourself, you need help. But you can only call for it if you always have your phone with you. The One Button Phone, for example, is worn on your wrist.
• The risk of strokes and heart attacks is significantly higher in older people. Both events are life-threatening and can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, it is important that those affected are able to call emergency services quickly and easily.
• You weren't paying attention while cooking and burned yourself with hot oil. Now you are suffering from severe pain and showing symptoms of shock, such as altered mental status and vomiting.

Furthermore, there are numerous situations that, while not medical emergencies, still require outside assistance for seniors. Imagine your washing machine's inlet hose has burst, causing water damage. Perhaps you accidentally locked yourself out while collecting the mail, or you got lost during a leisurely stroll. In these cases, it's extremely reassuring to know that help is always available. However, in such situations, you shouldn't call emergency services but rather contact a helpful person in your community.

Important emergency numbers at a glance

For emergency calls at home, you should have all emergency numbers readily available so that you reach the right person. Here are the most important emergency numbers for Germany:

• 112: The same emergency number for medical emergencies applies throughout Europe. Dial 112 if you need immediate treatment. Serious injuries, heart attacks, strokes, and shortness of breath are generally considered emergencies. If you are unsure of the extent of the injury or the symptoms, you should also call emergency services immediately.
• 110: If you need help because of a crime, dial 110. You can get help there in the event of burglaries, robberies and other types of threats.
• 116 117: Do you need medical assistance, but it's not an acute emergency? Are the doctors' offices already closed? Then you can call the on-call medical service. They will help you over the phone and find an open practice for you or even send a doctor to your home.

You can, of course, save these numbers in your landline phone or smartphone. However, if you are alone at home and the device is in another room, and you are unable to move, the saved numbers will be of no use to you. Furthermore, using a telephone or smartphone is often cumbersome and overwhelming for seniors, which is why an emergency call button is recommended from a certain age.

The One Button Phone is particularly practical. Worn on the wrist, it can be operated with the push of a button. In an emergency, the three saved emergency contacts are called sequentially in a cascade sequence until one of them answers. The person called can then contact emergency services or come to the scene themselves – depending on the urgency. Thanks to GPS tracking, your location is even transmitted, so your emergency contact knows where you are.

This is how the emergency call process works

Stay calm and try to speak clearly and distinctly to the person on the other end of the line. The more information you can provide when calling emergency services from home, the better the emergency responders can prepare. The emergency dispatch center will typically ask you the following questions:

• Where are you currently located? Please state your address and provide further details such as the floor or possible access routes.
• What happened? The emergency dispatch center wants to know if it's a medical emergency or another problem, such as a fire or flood. This will help them decide whether to send an ambulance, the fire department, or both.
• How many people are injured? In a household accident or a heart attack, usually only one person is affected. However, in car accidents, there can be multiple injured people. The emergency responders then decide how many paramedics and doctors are needed.
• What injuries or complaints are present? Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions?

Don't hang up immediately, but stay on the phone until the ambulance arrives or the dispatcher ends the call. Try to answer all questions as thoroughly as possible and absolutely avoid downplaying your symptoms. Experience shows that older people, in particular, tend to minimize their symptoms. Now is not the time for that!

If you are too confused or have difficulty orienting yourself due to your health condition, it is better if someone else makes the emergency call for you. Seniors living alone can try contacting their neighbors. However, even this is not always possible in an acute emergency.

Unfortunately, the emergency call center has limited options for locating the caller. Therefore, we strongly recommend that, from a certain age, you use an emergency call system that automatically transmits your location via SMS. If you choose our One Button Phone, you can be sure that your emergency contact will know your location. Thanks to the GPS tracking function, your location can be determined quite accurately, even if you are outside the house or in the garden. So, even if you are not at home during an emergency, your emergency contact will still know your location.

Location tracking doesn't work as well indoors. However, your emergency contact knows your address and can either visit you in person or call emergency services and tell them where to go.

When is it an emergency?

An emergency exists whenever a life-threatening situation arises or immediate treatment is necessary to prevent serious consequences. Symptoms considered acutely life-threatening or requiring immediate treatment include, but are not limited to, the following:

• serious injuries
• unconsciousness
• significant blood loss
• allergic shock
• excruciating pain
• Shortness of breath
• severe chest pain
• sudden visual disturbances and paralysis

A common cold is usually not a reason to call emergency services. However, even a mild cold can become dangerous. If respiratory infections spread to the lungs or if a high fever develops, a previously harmless infection can quickly become life-threatening. Older people, in particular, are at high risk of developing pneumonia.

It's not always easy for laypeople to assess when a situation is an emergency and when it isn't. In critical situations, those affected are often stressed and overwhelmed, making it even more difficult for them to make decisions.

If you are unsure, you should always call emergency services and describe the situation to the dispatcher. The dispatchers on duty will then assess, based on your information, whether it is an emergency or not. It's better to call emergency services too often than not often enough! In the end, it could be a matter of life and death.

Correct behavior upon the arrival of emergency services

To allow emergency responders access, ideally they should be met by a helper outside. This is only possible, of course, if someone is available to do so. Even if you are alone, try to facilitate entry. However, under no circumstances should you risk your health. If necessary, emergency responders will force entry.

Answer all questions truthfully and provide important information about pre-existing conditions and medications. If you have an emergency medical card, this can also help emergency responders. Keep it in an easily accessible place, or, if you have pre-existing conditions, opt for a wristband with a QR code. This will allow paramedics and doctors to access all relevant information about your health.

It can also be helpful to have your health insurance card readily available. Of course, you won't be refused treatment if you don't have it, but if you are admitted to the hospital, the card can be read immediately. It's best to put together a folder for such emergencies and keep it within easy reach. Then you can simply point it out to someone, and they can quickly grab it.

Finding the perfect emergency call system for seniors

You can make an emergency call from home in various ways. However, not all emergency call systems are suitable for seniors. When making your decision, consider ease of use and practicality for everyday life. You should be able to operate the system easily so that you are not overwhelmed, even in a stressful situation.

The landline telephone – the classic version

Of course, you can make an emergency call using your regular landline phone. You probably already have one at home, so there are no extra costs. You usually have to dial the emergency number yourself, but some landline phones have a dedicated SOS button. Pressing this button automatically dials 112.

Disadvantage: While modern landline phones are generally portable, they usually sit in their charging cradle somewhere in the house or apartment. In an emergency, you would first have to walk to the phone. Furthermore, your location is not transmitted to the emergency services. So, if you are too agitated or confused and cannot articulate clearly, you might not receive any help at all. If you are unconscious, a landline phone is also useless. Our One Button Phone is different. Thanks to its integrated fall sensor, it can even make emergency calls without your intervention and always sends a text message with your location information.

The smartphone – using modern emergency apps

If you're one of the active seniors who owns a smartphone, you can also use it for emergency calls. Models designed for older people often have an emergency button on the back. In addition, emergency call apps can be installed on the device. One example is nora, the emergency call app from the German federal states. In an emergency, the app asks questions and, based on the answers, selects the appropriate emergency dispatch center. It also uses the smartphone's GPS location to transmit your position.

Disadvantage: Many seniors struggle with smartphones and don't know how to find and install apps. While you can have a relative set up the device for you, if you accidentally change something later, you might find yourself lost. Furthermore, you can misplace a mobile phone just like a landline, meaning you might not have it with you in an emergency. With an alarm bracelet like the One Button Phone, this can't happen! After all, you wear it on your wrist.

Home emergency call service – monitoring by an on-call service

Seniors, especially those living alone or suffering from illnesses, need a sense of security. This can be provided, among other things, by a home emergency call service. The scope of this service can vary, but it typically works as follows:

• You choose a provider and book a service package.
• A technician will then come and install an emergency call station, which you can use to call for help at any time.
• When you press the emergency call button, you will be connected to the on-call service, to whom you can explain your problem. If necessary, the on-duty employee will call the emergency services.
• You can often book additional services such as key storage or the installation of smoke detectors.

In addition to the base station, many providers offer mobile emergency call buttons that you can wear around your neck or on your wrist. So, if you're out in the garden, you can press the emergency button without having to go back to the base station.

Disadvantage: If you opt for a home emergency call service, you'll have to expect monthly fees that can quickly exceed €60, depending on the scope of services. If you extrapolate this over several months or even years, it adds up to a considerable sum that you can save with a private home emergency call system . For example, with the One Button Phone, you only have to pay the purchase price once and then just the mobile network charges, which would also be the case with a smartphone.

The One Button Phone – mobile, uncomplicated and versatile

The emergency call wristbands provided by home emergency call services are a really practical solution – if only it weren't for the high monthly fees. Fortunately, there's another option: With the One Button Phone, we present to you an easy-to-use smartwatch for seniors.

This compact device features a single large button that allows you to access all its functions . There's no need to dial an emergency number or navigate through an emergency app. Simply press and hold the button to initiate the emergency call protocol. Here's how it works:

• You can save up to three emergency contacts. After you press the emergency call button, the first one will be called.
• If your first contact doesn't answer, the call will be forwarded to the second and finally to the third contact, as it's quite possible that someone might be unavailable.
• As soon as the person answers, you can explain the problem to them. They can then assess the situation and come by themselves, send someone, or call emergency services. If you are unresponsive, your emergency contact can, of course, also call emergency services immediately.
• In addition, your emergency contact automatically receives a text message with your location. If they have the family app installed on their smartphone, they can also request your location at any time. This can be particularly useful if contact is lost after an emergency call and you move before help arrives.

The advantages of the one-button phone at a glance

There are several reasons that speak in favor of the One Button Phone as a solution for emergency calls at home:

• The one-button phone is easily accessible and can generally be operated even by people who are inexperienced with modern technology. Therefore, it is ideal for seniors.
• The emergency call function gives you greater security in everyday life. Since you always carry the device close to your body, you no longer have to worry about what happens if you fall in the kitchen but the phone is in the living room. Your relatives will certainly find it reassuring as well.
• If you fall and are so disoriented or restricted in your mobility that you can no longer make an emergency call yourself, the One Button Phone will step in for you. It registers strong impacts and then alerts your emergency contacts. You don't have to lift a finger.
• The hands-free function means you don't have to hold the One Button Phone to your ear, leaving your hands free. This is also advantageous if you are unable to move but still able to speak.
• Thanks to the whitelist function, you can protect yourself from unwanted calls and thus also from scams like the grandparent scam. You can specify which numbers you are allowed to call. If necessary, ask a family member for help with this.
• Since the One Button Phone can be equipped with a SIM card from your preferred mobile provider, it is not only suitable for emergency calls at home, but is also a reliable companion on the go. After all, you can fall or have a heart attack anywhere.
• The One Button Phone boasts an impressive battery life of up to four days. With location tracking permanently enabled, it can even achieve a battery life of up to 18 hours. This means you'll rarely need to charge the device and can wear it all day long.

A true all-rounder with additional, practical functions

The One Button Phone is much more than just a compact emergency phone for the wrist. Thanks to its diverse functions, it is a helpful everyday companion that can be useful to seniors in various ways.

• Telephone function: In addition to its emergency call function, the One Button Phone also offers the option of making regular phone calls. Call your children or grandchildren, schedule doctor's appointments, or chat with your friends. Of course, you can also receive calls.
• Vital signs monitoring: At the touch of a button, you can measure blood pressure and pulse, allowing you to continuously monitor important vital signs. The readings are recorded via the family app , enabling accurate monitoring of developments over extended periods.
• Pedometer: Regular exercise gets your cardiovascular system going, burns excess calories, and helps counteract age-related muscle loss. Moderate endurance exercise like walking is ideal for seniors due to the low impact on joints. Monitor your activity with the integrated pedometer in the One Button Phone.
• Clock: If you have the One Button Phone, you no longer need a wristwatch, as the small device naturally displays the time. You can also set an alarm for early morning and wake up to a vibration alert.

Try the One Button Phone free for 30 days

If you've never owned a device like the One Button Phone before, it's perfectly normal to want to try it out first. That's why we offer our customers the opportunity to test the One Button Phone and its many features for 30 days. After this period, you can either return the device for a full refund or keep it. We're sure you won't want to be without its practical features and the added peace of mind it provides!