Have a medical alert system? Congratulations on your ability to remain independent in your own home!
Having the ability to connect to emergency personnel at the touch of a button ensures that you get the help you need when you need it, but it can also provide your family with peace of mind. Hopefully you’ve found it easy to integrate a medical alert system into your day-to-day life, especially since so many pendants don’t even look like they’re part of a medical alert system!
That’s because medical alert system companies make it really easy to use their technology. Shoot! With fall detection you don’t even have to push a button in order to get the help you need!
It is true that medical alert systems are easy to use, but you can’t just plug it into the wall and forget about it. You have to take an active role in your own safety, which means getting the most out of your medical alert system. You might as well if you’re paying for it.
Here are 3 things you can do to increase the effectiveness of your medical alert system.
- Stick to a charging schedule
What’s the point of having a GPS medical alert system if you’re just going to let your pendant die? That’s a trick question because there is no point! That’s why you should stick to a charging schedule.
It’s a good idea to check in with your medical alert system provider to find out how long your pendant can hold a charge. They can also tell you how often you should be charging your unit.
A general rule of thumb would be to charge the GPS unit every evening when you lay down at night. Just make sure you place the unit next to your bed so you can pick it up and use it first thing in the morning. You can also add a traditional pendant to your plan so you’re always protected, even if the GPS unit is charging.
Can’t seem to remember to charge your mobile medical alert system? Choose one with a battery that doesn’t need to be charged, which brings me to my next point.
- Know when to replace the batteries
Do you know when to replace the batteries in your pendant? Would you know if the battery died in your pendant? I can tell you one thing—you don’t want to find out your pendant is dead when you’re pushing the button in an emergency.
The simple solution is to know when you need to change the batteries. Many medical alert systems do all the hard work for you. For example, Bay Alarm Medical has a pendant that lasts for a full five years without the need to replace the battery. When the five years are up, an alert is sent to the monitoring center and they’ll send you a brand new pendant for free.
Got stuck with a medical alert system company that requires you to ask for a new pendant? Determine the date when the battery needs to be changed. Write this date on a piece of paper and tape it to your base unit. That way you will never forget when you need to have that pendant replaced.
- Use the Vial of Life
My absolute favorite way to increase the effectiveness of your medical alert system is to use the Vial of Life. As a matter of fact, I would highly recommend utilizing this this absolutely free service even if you don’t have a medical alert system. It is such an effective way to get the help you need that some medical alert systems include the Vial of Life with all of their plans.
So, what is it? It’s a simple form that you fill out with your most current personal and medical information. The form makes it easy to answer the most essential questions that will help emergency personnel who arrive at your home.
Then, place this information in a plastic baggie with the Vial of Life decal on the front, and put that plastic baggie on your refrigerator. Place another decal on the front door so anyone responding to an emergency in your home knows to look for this information.
Want to make the Vial of Life even better? There are additional things you can add to the baggie that include:
- Copy of your most recent EKG
- Living will or equivalent
- Do not resuscitate order
- A recent picture of yourself
Not only is the Vial of Life free, you can download the form from their website and print it out instantaneously. You can even order up to 10 decals for free!
Of course, the best way to make sure your medical alert system works for you is to end up with the right medical alert system in the first place. There are a lot of crappy systems out there, and even some of the best may not have the features you’re looking for.
If you’re ready to try a different medical alert system, or if you’re shopping for the first time, make sure you check out our reviews. We only partner with the best systems, and we review each one extensively so you can make an informed decision. After all, your independence depends on it!
