In 1853, a Massachusetts businessman and inventor created the first safety alarm, an electromagnetic burglar alarm. Nearly 170 years later, safety alarms have advanced significantly and can now protect our homes and companies and our personal health and safety.
However, in the modern age, various triggers can be monitored, ranging from harmful chemicals and radiation to ensuring that we do not enter a risky location. However, the most significant benefit has been improving personal and occupational health and safety.
What is a Panic Button for the Elderly?
As the name implies, a panic alarm for older people is a push-button device that provides immediate assistance during an emergency. It is typically a tiny, wearable gadget, such as a pendant or bracelet, that transmits an alarm to a specified emergency contact or a monitoring center when activated. Additional panic buttons can be found on mobile phones or in fixed locations throughout the home.
There are various varieties of panic buttons available, each with its set of characteristics tailored to individual needs.
- Basic panic button: This single button can be pressed in an emergency. When engaged, it sends a distress signal to pre-programmed contacts or a response center, which can typically converse with the user via speakerphone.
- GPS panic button: Equipped with GPS technology, this type allows the emergency team to determine where the person in distress is, even if they are not at home or do not respond to attempts to contact them.
- Fall detection panic button: This panic alarm gadget is a relatively more advanced option that automatically detects falls and sends an alert if the user cannot touch the panic button due to injury or unconsciousness.
- Mobile panic button: This portable panic button functions outside the home, providing protection while out and about, such as on shopping trips.
- Smartphones with panic buttons: Some smartwatches and phones include an incorporated panic button feature, which might be helpful for persons who are resistant to traditional wearable gadgets.
- Wall-mounted panic buttons and pull cords: These non-wearable devices are carefully placed throughout the home.
Why should you buy a personal alarm system?
For various reasons, employees, especially seniors, may require a personal alarm system.
Personal panic alarms are proactive solutions that empower senior employees to avoid risky workplace situations. When in place before an incident occurs, this safety gadget also provides peace of mind to the worker and employer. In addition to a panic alarm, companies should have an automatic check-in system where senior employees can log in.
1. Panic alarms are a legal requirement
Local state requirements apply to areas such as hospitality and education. Hotels in Florida, California, Washington, New York, and Illinois are legally required to give their personnel wearable panic alarms to senior officials, guests, and staff members. With federal legislation, panic alarms for senior individuals will soon become standard equipment nationwide.
2. Employee Safety: Going Beyond Compliance
Many industries have yet to implement workplace panic buttons, even though many may benefit from such technology. Wireless panic alarm technology can help hospitals, shopping malls, and universities. The healthcare industry is one of many that is dealing with an increasing problem of workplace violence. A patient assaults one in every four nurses, and 13% of missed workdays are related to workplace violence.
That being said, 28% of occurrences are not reported. These figures demonstrate that protecting healthcare workers is more than just an issue of compliance. Should regulation be the only incentive to desire to create a safer workplace? Your employees are your most precious assets, and their safety should be a major priority.
3. Reliable and cost-effective technology
When selecting a Panic Alarm gadget for your staff members, there are several variables to consider. A sound system should run on its network, with dedicated transmitters, rather than relying on Wi-Fi or mobile phone coverage. Pinpoint accuracy and precision are essential in an emergency.
Your equipment should be able to detect the troubled individual in real time and accurately tell respondents of their actual position. Look for wireless gadgets to reduce the installation cost. Be wary of recurring monthly license and user fees.
How does a panic alarm work?
Depending on the type you select, a panic alarm for the elderly can operate in various ways. Different alarms have different features and benefits, so think carefully before deciding which suits you best.
Most panic alarms have one thing in common: they help individuals in an emergency. Most panic alarms are wearable gadgets that allow the user to ask for assistance by pressing the SOS button. Multiple wearing alternatives are available, with most alarms offering both wrist and neck wear options. If the user requires assistance, such as if they suddenly feel ill, all they have to do is touch the button, and the alert will immediately summon for aid.
Quickly summon help from anywhere with a panic button.
Additionally, vulnerable personnel may require a panic button, depending on the degree of risk and safety dangers while doing their duties. When pressed or activated in an emergency, a panic button will summon quick assistance. When the personal safety alarm is ineffective, the employee can utilize a panic button to deter the threat, depending on the situation.
Panic buttons are becoming a necessary workplace safeguard, and states and cities include them in their safety legislation and regulations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), assault was responsible for about 800 of the over 5,000 fatal workplace injuries reported in 2019. According to the studies, approximately 20,000 private industry workers were injured by nonfatal workplace violence in 2019, necessitating time off work.
How does an automatic safety check-in work?
Automated, cloud-based monitoring is developing as a new best practice for safety and stand-alone applications. These systems can be combined with various devices to provide immediate protection for personnel in the field. These systems use the most recent breakthroughs in technology to:
- Automatically prompt employees to check in and leave audio messages.
- Avoid pricey call centers and laborious manual processes.
- Keep track of all check-ins, even for a considerable fleet of personnel.
- Proactively provide alerts to supervisors when check-ins are missing.
- Send alerts to a list of emergency contacts when a worker requires assistance.
- Provide supervisors with real-time GPS locations and work history during emergencies.
In the end!
These safety precautions are part of a workplace accident prevention program that will manage the safety processes and protocols designed to prevent these incidents from occurring. In addition to safety alarms and panic buttons, a workplace violence prevention program comprises safety regulations, processes, and education. Smaller workplace violence prevention programs are also an option, and they should include regular safety evaluations, prevention methods, and incident follow-up.
No matter what safety equipment you use to protect your team, especially the seniors, ensure it is the best fit for their specific safety needs, offering a tool everyone will benefit from utilizing.
