“Advances in technology can save lives in emergencies, whether through better communication or improved medical devices.” – Bill Gates
It is not a surprise that technology plays a massive role in saving lives, whether it is through advanced medical facilities or improved emergency call services.
Thousands of lives are saved through emergency call services every year, it is particularly advantageous for the elderly prone to falls and risky medical conditions, or thrill seekers who like to test themselves on hiking tours by surviving in the wild.
However, some situations can be extreme and require improved and better emergency call services. Like most cases, technology comes to the rescue here as well.
In today’s guide, we will talk about five ways technology has helped to improve our once very straightforward single-function buttons that have been transformed into highly sophisticated tools capable of much more than an SOS signal.
Stick to the end to understand how technology has turned modern emergency call buttons into more intelligent and reliable for critical situations.
1. Automatic Fall Detection – Intelligently Recognizing Risky Situations
While precise GPS tracking undoubtedly makes emergency call buttons more capable of saving you in risky situations, this technological improvement makes the button helpful only when pressed.
But have you thought about what would happen in a situation if a person is unable to press the button and call for help during such a situation? What if the person falls unconscious due to the impact of the event?
That’s why a modern emergency call button also includes precise motion sensors and tiny accelerometers, which can automatically detect when a user falls.
These robust systems are so reliable that they can distinguish between a minor stumble that doesn’t require attention and a risky fall, about which emergency services should be notified.
The primary reason why this addition is one of the most transformative innovations is because you don’t have to press the button in such a situation. Once it detects its user has fallen, the button automatically alerts emergency services and other contacts, ensuring a response even if the user can’t move.
2. 24/7 Tracking – Knowing Your Precise Location Through GPS
While GPS tracking has been around for a long time, our recent technological breakthroughs have made this technology extraordinarily accurate and much more reliable than before.
These advanced GPS systems can now accurately pinpoint your location, even in remote rural areas or crowded cities. They can also provide precise location data in real-time, making them indispensable for wilderness-based activities like hiking.
On the other hand, real-time location data can also be vital for family members and guardians caring for an older person or someone with disabilities. It also provides around-the-clock access to the location of a person who might be at risk of falling or experiencing a seizure or a heart attack.
3. Two-Way Communication – Speaking and Hearing Emergency Services
In the past, an emergency call button was a single-function tool that would send out a signal for help and nothing else. There was no medium to ensure that your message was heard or if help was on its way.
However, today’s devices are also equipped with tiny yet well-thought-out and powerful microphones and speakers, which enable two-way communication directly through the device.
By allowing users to talk to emergency services, these buttons ensure that the first responders know what happened to the person and how it happened, which prepares them for the specific situation they’re about to face.
And since these are two-way communication devices, modern emergency call buttons also make it possible for medical personnel to advise you and provide help even before the first responders arrive, which is indispensable if you’ve broken a bone or are bleeding.
DO YOU KNOW? Of the 229,823 emergency calls in 2023, 79.7% were medical-related (e.g., chest pain, breathlessness, unconsciousness, and cardiac arrest); 16.3% were trauma cases (e.g., industrial accidents, falls, and assaults); and the remaining 4% were road traffic accidents. The graph below provides a breakdown of emergency calls from 2021 to 2023.Alt Text – Breakdown of emergency calls 2021-2023.
4. Enhanced Connectivity – Pairing With Your Smart Devices
We live in an age where even our appliances are considered intelligent. These devices actively use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to the Internet of Things, or IoT for short, a network of interrelated devices constantly talking to each other.
Modern emergency call buttons can also connect to such a network, making it possible for emergency responders to find your exact location in the house or apartment and saving a few extra seconds that can sometimes be the difference between life and death. Some of these devices can even record what happened to you and alert the first responders to avoid causing additional damage.
Similarly, these emergency devices are also intertwined with your smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, voice assistants, etc., further enhancing their connectivity.
This constant connection makes it possible to send out instant alerts and notify friends, family members, caregivers, and emergency services if something ever happens to you.
5. Waterproof Design – Being Safe in All Conditions
Whether you slip and fall into a body of water during an outdoor activity or do the same in a bathtub or shower in your home, water-related accidents make up a massive number of emergencies, especially when discussing people with disabilities and older people.
Thus, making emergency call buttons waterproof was a genius thought, as it makes them usable in the bathroom, by the pool, during rainy outdoor activities, and in other similar situations that might involve water or rain, and the user never has to worry about damaging a button in such conditions.
INTERESTING TIDBIT The first emergency number was not 911, it was 999. It was established in London in 1937. It was created to provide a quick way to contact emergency services.
Conclusion
It is no surprise that technology plays a massive role in our everyday lives, and emergency call buttons are one of the areas where it had a life-saving impact. In this regard, modern technology has transformed these simple tools into robust systems capable of making a difference between life and death.
From providing real-time and precise location info to intertwining these devices with other smart gadgets to introducing an intelligent and automatic fall detection feature to enabling instant two-way communication and making these devices usable even in wet conditions, technology has made a massive impact on emergency call buttons and made them indispensable.
