How to choose a PERS (Personal Emergency ResponseSystem)
The “Help, I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” Button
By Mark Beghtel, Manager of Technical ServicesTSI Distribution, LLC
A Personal Emergency Response System is defined as an electronic devicedesigned to summon help in an emergency.If you are elderly or disabled, you may be considering a PERS Emergency Alertsystem for yourself, or you may have someone you care about that could useone. This guide has been prepared to help you decide what the best solutionsare for you or your loved one.There are two different types of Medical Alert PERS systems available now,monitored and non-monitored.
How a Personal Emergency Response Systemworks (Monitored PERS)
First, let’s learn how a monitored PERS system works:
A monitored PERS system has three basic components:1. A small radio transmitter (a help button carried or worn by the user).2. A console connected to the telephone line.3. An emergency response center to receive the call for help.When an emergency presents itself, the PERS user presses the button on thetransmitter. The signal is sent wirelessly to the console, which then sends adigital signal over the telephone line to a special receiver at the monitoringresponse center. When they receive the signal, with most systems (but not all),the operator at the response center can open the telephone line and talk with theclient through a speaker-phone built into the console, to verify what kind of helpis needed. If they cannot communicate with the client, the typical procedureshave the response center calling each person listed as caregivers, one at a time,until they can notify someone of the problem. If they can reach no one, they willcall the appropriate emergency responders. See Figure 1.
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