Why Get A Medical Alert System? Real Emergencies Tell The Story

Actual transcripts of medical alert emergencies tell the real story of what happens when someone presses their button.

Editor's Note: Some readers will find the graphic nature of these real life emergencies distressing. Proceed with caution. Emergency dispatch transcripts are CAPITALIZED to minimize spelling errors and speed communication with first responders.

We often hear the line "I've fallen and I can't get up" as a punch line or a joke, bringing back memories of the old commercial with the lady fallen in her bathroom. But falling is no joke, and can lead to serious consequences...including death.

Fortunately, not all the calls we receive for help are that dramatic or life threatening. Many times someone just needs help getting up, something known as a "lift assist". But make no mistake - if a senior presses the button looking for help they are worried and anxious and concerned. This is not a joke - this is serious business and can impact their ability to continue to live independently in their own homes.
 

Below are some examples of actual medical alert button calls we receive from our clients. If you or a loved one don't think this can happen to you....think again. 1 in 3 seniors will fall in their own home each year, and the chance of falling again are doubled after the first fall. Anyone taking multiple medications is highly susceptible to falling or having balance issues. Chronic conditions like COPD, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, seizures, and so on also increase the need for being able to get help quickly in an emergency.
 

Here's what happens when you press your emergency response medical alert button:

• You are connected with our emergency response center.
• Our EMT/EMD-Certified agents will speak with you over the 2-way voice console or pendant and ask if you need emergency assistance. We know WHO and WHERE you are, and who to notify in an emergency.
• You'll tell us what kind of help you need. Depending on what you tell us, we will take appropriate action:
  • A non-emergency request for help might just require us to contact a friend, family member or neighbor. to come over and help you. Not all button presses require an ambulance and a fire truck!
  • In an actual emergency we will dispatch the appropriate emergency responders (police, fire or EMS) and notify the people on your emergency contact list. We will call and send text messages to notify your contacts.
  • If we are unable to hear you, our standard protocol is to first call your home phone or cell phone to make voice contact. If we are still unable to reach you, we will dispatch emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.

Many seniors are nervous about living alone, and are afraid of falling and unable to get help. Give your family members comfort and peace of mind knowing help is just a button press away.
 

Fallen, with injuries

• RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM ACTIVATION FROM [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED SHE HAD FALLEN IN THE NIGHT AND MAY HAVE BROKEN HER HIP, REQUESTED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. DISPATCHED MEDICAL RESPONSE AND NOTIFIED [NAME REDACTED]
• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL ALARM. WE SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] HE ADVISED THAT [NAME REDACTED] CAN NOT GET UP AND CAN NOT MOVE. WE DISPATCHED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. WE NOTIFIED CONTACTS.
• WE RECEIVED MULTIPLE MEDICAL PENDANT ALARMS. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STATES FELL AND NEEDS HELP UP, UNSURE IF INJURED DID HIT HEAD. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND NOTIFIED [NAME REDACTED] .
• WE RECEIVED AN ACTUAL MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM FROM [NAME REDACTED] SHE SAID SHE HAS FALLEN IN THE BACK BEDROOM AND FELL ON HER FACE AND HER NOSE IS BLEEDING. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
• WE RECEIVED AN ACTUAL RESIDENTIAL MEDICAL ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED HE FELL AND POSSIBLY BROKE LEG. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND NOTIFIED [DAUGHTER NAME REDACTED]
• WE RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY ALARM AND SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] STATES SHE FELL YESTERDAY BUT TODAY NOW HER RIGHT EYE WONT OPEN IT IS SWOLLEN SHUT, SHE HAS BLOOD IN HER URINE AND SHE IS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME BREATHING
• SPOKE W/ [NAME REDACTED. REQ DEA STS HE SLIPPED AND CUT HIS HEAD
• WE RECEIVED A GPS EMERGENCY ALARM FROM [NAME REDACTED], WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED HIS WIFE FELL, HIT HER HEAD ON THE FLOOR, WAS BLEEDING FROM THE HEAD AND UNABLE TO GET UP, REQUESTED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

• RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY FALL DETECTED ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO FELL AND STATED [NAME REDACTED] WAS FEELING WEAK. WE THEN DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

• SPOKE TO FEMALE INDICATED FALLEN AND CAN'T GET UP. UNABLE TO VERIFY IF INJURIES SUSTAINED. STS LOCATED IN BACK ROOM.

• SPOKE WITH FEMALE WHO HAS FALLEN. STATES SHE IS BLEEDING FROM NOSE. SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] . STATES SHE IS IN THE DINING ROOM ON THE FLOOR. FEELS A LITTLE DIZZY DUE TO FALL.

• SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STS SHE FELL AND NEEDS HELP UP WAS YELLING AND IN PAIN.

• SPOKE WITH FEMALE. STS [NAME REDACTED] HAS FALLEN AND CANNOT GET UP. CONFIRMED BLEEDING FROM BIG TOE AND NAIL IS COMING OFF HAD FALLEN. ALSO HER BIG TOE WAS BLEEDING AND THE NAIL WAS COMING OFF. AT HER REQUEST, WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

• SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] . STS FELL IN THE BEDROOM AND NEEDS HELP. REQ DEA SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] STS ON SITE BUT CANNOT LIFT [NAME REDACTED] RECEIVED SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] STS [NAME REDACTED] WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A HEAD INJURY.

• RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM. WE SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED THAT SHE FELL IN HER KITCHEN AND HURT HER HIP. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO HER HOME ADDRESS AND NOTIFIED [NAME REDACTED]

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] (HEALTH AID) WHO STATED THAT [NAME REDACTED] HAD FALLEN AND INJURED HIS HEAD AND LEG WHICH WERE BLEEDING. WE DISPATCHED EMS

• [NAME REDACTED] STATES SHE HAS FALLEN IN THE LIVING ROOM AND MAY HAVE BROKEN HER SHOULDER.

• WE RECEIVED AN ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] HE STATED HE HIT HIS HEAD AND IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR. WE RECEIVED AND ADDL ALARM AND [NAME REDACTED] STATED HE WAS ON THE FLOOR AND COULDN'T GET UP. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY SERVICES

Fallen, not injured, needs "Lift Assist"

• SPOKE W/ CONTACT [NAME REDACTED] ADVISED MOTHER [NAME REDACTED] HAD FALLEN. NOT INJURED NOR BLEEDING BUT DOES NEED ASSISTANCE GETTING HER UP.

• SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] , REQUESTING HELP FOR A FALL, UNKNOWN ON INJURIES AT THIS TIME

• SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STS [NAME REDACTED] IS FALLING OUT OF THE CHAIR, NEEDS A LIFT ASSIST.

• SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] STS HE IS NOT HURT, BUT FELL DOWN AND NEEDS HELP GETTING UP.

• SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STS SHE FELL BUT IS NOT INJURED, REQ LIFT ASSIST STS SHE IS JUST INSIDE THE BACK DOOR

• [NAME REDACTED] REQ LIFT ASSIST NO INJURIES HE IS IN BATHROOM , FRONT DOOR UNLOCKED
• SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STS HE FELL IN THE FRONT DOORWAY, NO REPORT OF INJURY
• SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STS SHE FELL IN THE BATH TUB
• SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STS HE FELL AND CANNOT GET UP IN HIS FRONT YARD
• SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED CAREGIVER] STS [NAME REDACTED] SLIPPED OUT HER WHEEL CHAIR, SHE CANT GET HER UP. SHES STILL ON THE FLOOR
• SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] STS HIS WIFE FELL

General Illness, Not Injured

High Blood Pressure, Possible Stroke

Heart Attack, Chest Pains

• RECEIVED MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STS SHE IS HAVING CHEST PAIN REQ EMS

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL FALL DETECTION ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO SAID [NAME REDACTED] WAS EXPERIENCING PAIN UNDER HER RIGHT ARM. WE THEN CONFERENCE THEM TO DISPATCH AND NOTIFIED THE CALL LIST.

• SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] STS FELL ON THE COUCH AND FEEL LIKE SHES HAVING A HEART ATTACK, SHE NEEDED AN AMBULANCE.

• SPOKE TO DONNA JONES STS HAVING CHEST PAINS FOR OVER 10 MIN. HAD A STENT PUT IN FRIDAY. HAS NITROGLYCERIN BUT UNSURE IF SHE SHOULD TAKE IT. WE HAVE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY SERVICES

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED HER MOTHER [NAME REDACTED] WAS HAVING CHEST PAINS AND WAS SENT HOME FROM THE DR'S WITH AN ABNORMAL EKG. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY SERVICE
• WE RECEIVED AN ACTUAL GPS EMERGENCY ALARM FROM [NAME REDACTED]. WE SPOKE TO HIS WIFE SHE SAID HE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING AND ALSO HE THINKS HE MAY BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY SERVICE
• WE RECEIVED A GPS EMERGENCY ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED THAT HIS WIFE [NAME REDACTED] WAS UNABLE TO MOVE AND WAS EXPERIENCING A BURNING SENSATION ON HER ARMS AND CHEST. WE DISPATCHED EMS.
• WE RECEIVED TWO ACTUAL GENERAL MEDICAL PENDANT ALARMS. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] TWICE WHO ADVISED SHE WAS HAVING CHEST PAINS. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. WE NOTIFIED [NAME REDACTED].
• WE RECEIVED A RESIDENTIAL MEDICAL ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED SHE HAD HEART PAIN. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. WE NOTIFIED CONTACT [NAME REDACTED]. ON THE CALL LIST.

Shortness of Breath, COPD

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM. [NAME REDACTED] STS LEFT ARM NUMB, SHORT OF BREATH, THROWING UP

• RECEIVED MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] AID STS [NAME REDACTED] IS FEELING
• DIZZY AND SHORT OF BREATH REQ EMS, EMS WAS DISPATCHED NTFD CONTAC
• T [NAME REDACTED]

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL ALARM WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED THAT [NAME REDACTED] IS SHORT OF BREATH, HIS LIPS ARE TURNING BLUE, HIS FEET ARE SWOLLEN. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY SERVICE.

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM AND SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO INDICATED [NAME REDACTED] WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. WE HAVE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL ALARM AND SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATEDSHE HAS BRONCHITISAND DUE TO A SEVERE COUGHING EPISODE SHE WASHAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. EMS DISPATCHED. CONTACT NOTIFIED AND RESPONDING.
• WE RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL ALARM FROM [NAME REDACTED] WHO SAID THAT [NAME REDACTED] COULD NOT BREATH AND SEND THE EMS TEAM. WE DISPATCHED EMS TEAM TO ASSIST, THEN CALLED THE CONTACT LIST.

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED], WHO STATED HE WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH COPD. WE THEN UPDATED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, AND NOTIFIED [NAME REDACTED].
• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM. WE SPOKE TO A FEMALE WHO STATED THAT [NAME REDACTED] WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
• RECEIVED AN ACTUAL MEDICAL ALARM. SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] (HOME HEALTH AIDE) WHO STATES [NAME REDACTED] WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. DISPATCHED EMS AND LEFT MESSAGES FOR THE CALL LIST.
• WE RECEIVED MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM. WE SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED]. SHE STATED THAT SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. WE DISPATCHED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. WE NOTIFIED [NAME REDACTED].
• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED]. WHO STATED SHE IS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, SHORT OF BREATH. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND NOTIFIED [DAUGHTER NAME REDACTED].
• WE RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM AND SPOKE TO A FEMALE CARETAKER FOR [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED [NAME REDACTED] WAS HAVING DIFFICULTIES BREATHING AND REQUESTED TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY SERVICES.

Medication Related

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL ALARM. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED]. SHE STATED SHE HAD A MEDICINE MIX UP, ENDED UP TAKING TOO MUCH MEDICATION, HAVING AN ANXIETY/PANIC ATTACK. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. WE NOTIFIED FAMILY.
• WE RECEIVED TWO GPS EMERGENCY ALARMS. WE SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED], HE STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH HIS CATHETER, MAY BE LEAKING. WE DISPATCHED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
• SPOKE WITH [NAME REDACTED] STS MIGHT'VE TAKEN MEDICATION TWICE. DISPATCHED EMS, NOTIFIED EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Injury or Accident Emergency

• WE RECEIVED A MEDICAL PENDANT ALARM, SPOKE TO [NAME REDACTED] WHO STATED HER HUSBAND [NAME REDACTED] CUT HIS LEG WIDE OPEN AND IS ON BLOOD THINNERS.

Non-Medical Emergency