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Smart watches/emergency buzzers

(8 Posts)
Petera Thu 28-Apr-22 15:34:41

Does anyone have any experience with using an Apple watch (other brands are available) instead of an emergency buzzer on a rope round your neck?

The buzzer has the obvious advantage of being a single button, but the standard disadvantage of people hating to wear it.

The watch is more complicated to use in an emergency but I am aware that they are now being produced with the facility to call emergency services autonomously when they detect sudden changes.

PollyDolly Fri 29-Apr-22 08:49:54

I've my experience of these other than the Apple watches will work wherever there is a mobile phone signal whereas the 'emergency buzzer' or lifeline alert devices need to be within the range of the wearers land line phone surely?

Franbern Fri 29-Apr-22 09:17:39

I decided NOT to have an emergency buzzer, which has to be continuously paid for. Also, with those, if pressed, the company then just calls your listed contacts.

I have alexa in my flat, and wear a smart watch, purchased by kids as a pressie, so am in constant contact with that. In the event of my requiring assistance, I can just call out for Alexa to telephone my daughter or SiL. The call then goes direct to their numbers.

My daughter, keeps her phone on silent when working in class, but also wears a smartwatch. She knows that if there was a call from me during working hours (which she would see on that watch), it would mean an emergency and would answer it.

No on-going costs are involved, and both she and I feel a sense of security that I can make virtually immediate contact. Only real problem would be if I was actually unconscious - not sure how to cover that!!!

Mamie Fri 29-Apr-22 11:29:53

I have the call the emergency services facility on my Apple Watch. It costs nothing. However, I don't have automatic fall detection on any more as it detected a fall and wanted to call the emergency services when I was sawing through a branch!
To call the emergency services yourself you press a button and then confirm that is what you want. Very easy though I have not yet had cause to use it.

DaisyAnne Fri 29-Apr-22 13:06:50

I live in a retirement flat which comes under the "independent living" heading. I find the standard package designed for such living anachronistic.

As you say in your OP Petra, those of us who are fit-ish do not want to wear a pendant. I would also say the pull cables are inappropriate too.

If you are still "independant" but falling is a worry, I would guess the most likely time people fall is at night. Those who do use them take the pendant off at night. I doubt they would think to put it on if they are "just popping to the bathroom".

My mother's pendant was changed to a fall alarm (still a pendant). This was much better as it was the fall that triggered it. As I understand there is a fall alarm on the Apple Watch. People would be much more likely to keep it on too.

I feel that we could have a much better system with watches and a couple of Alexa's we could shout at. However, our flats are lease-hold, of course. We would have to ask the company that holds the lease and supplies the general services to change this. They would have to find a Care company that would work with it. I believe there is some problem with the information the Care Company holds going over the internet. And the internet is, of course, the other problem. Some flat owners do not have broadband.

But I do think this is the way to go.

Sparklefizz Fri 29-Apr-22 17:09:16

I have a care alarm that I chose to have on a wrist bracelet, and I wear it 24/7 including in the shower and in bed.

Audi10 Fri 29-Apr-22 17:17:11

I have Apple IWatch also. Has call emergency services think it’s great and fall detection, I go out walking early morning and at night,tracker on phone.everything linked to watch, I noticed only last night I had message come up on phone respiratory change has taken place.

MandryFlow Tue 04-Oct-22 16:13:50

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