Medical Alert Fall Detectors

A fall detector is a device that automatically detects a fall, and sends an emergency message to the monitoring station ...without the wearer having to press any buttons. This is a good concept, if the wearer is concerned with instantly collapsing without any prior warning. The warning signs, would of course allow them to manually activate the button. I have investigated several of these fall detectors, and want to report on the pros and cons. First, I believe less than 5% of medical alarm systems in service today are equipped with these detectors. In my experience, very few people instantaneously drop over unconscious. Usually, there are either warning signals, or the client falls down with injuries, but remains conscious. In these situations, the senior could of course deploy the button. I've never heard of a client unable to push the button when they went down. But, I stipulate, it must happen . Here are the problems I've observed with the fall detectors. They contain either an accelerometer, or a mercury tilt switch. These detectors are overly sensitive, if for an example they are attached to your belt, when your drop your pants to the floor,or you lay down, the tilt sensor activates. As a result, one of the systems has a built in audible "USER HAS FALLEN" whenever the fall detector activates. This give you a certain time frame, say one minute to untilt the sensor. If you straighten out the switch, or put it in its cradle when you sleep, it announces "USER IS OK". Interesting technology, for the 5% that have special needs, but a nuisance for most people. The original application for these devices was a man down sensor for prison guards ! Another model features an accelerometer. I'm not sure exactly what that high fangled technology means, or how it works, but it is supposed to detect a sudden fall. The device clips on to your belt. You kind of have to throw yourself on the floor a few times to test it out. I felt like Chevy Chase playing with these devices. Sometimes they worked, sometimes not. Belt clips work find for men, but I don't know how the women are supposed to wear the device. I was told you could strap the device in a pouch on a dementia patient. The battery life on the fall detectors is also less than a year, and compared to 50,000 presses on our pendants and wrist bracelets. We offer these systems on a special order basis and a premium price as an accomodation. We also offer sip and puff sensors, for paraplegics. For the average person, stick with the simple, field proven tried and true neck pendant. It works.