Emergency bracelet in an emergency: Why pressing the button sometimes fails

A personal emergency response system is actually designed for one specific moment: the emergency. One press of a button is all it takes for help to be organized. For many families, this feeling of security is the main reason they opt for such a system. However, in practice, something often emerges that many relatives initially don't expect: Sometimes the button isn't pressed at all.

Not because the personal emergency response system isn't working. But because people in a real emergency often react differently than one might imagine beforehand.

Studies from nursing homes and emergency call services show that some emergencies are indeed discovered without an alarm being triggered.

This is a known problem, especially with falls. According to studies, about one in three people over 65 falls at least once a year. For people over 80, this number increases significantly.

Many of these falls happen in one's own home. However, the actual risk often only arises afterwards. If a person lies on the floor for a long time, serious health consequences can occur.

Doctors refer to this as the "lying time problem" – the period of time a fallen person spends on the floor without help.

After just one hour, the following can occur:

• severe dehydration
  
• hypothermia
  
• circulatory problems
  
• muscle wasting due to pressure load

The sooner help is organized, the lower the risk of complications.

For many people, the decision to call for help is not as easy as one might think.

Especially older people are often used to solving problems themselves. Therefore, an emergency call is sometimes only considered when there is really no other option.

Typical thoughts are:

• "It'll be fine in a moment."
  
• "I can get up on my own."
  
• "I don't want to alarm anyone."

After a fall, many first try to stand up or pull themselves up on furniture. Sometimes this works. However, sometimes it leads to valuable time being lost.

In addition to the decision, the physical situation also plays a role.

After a fall, various factors can make it difficult to press an emergency call button:

• Pain
  
• Dizziness or disorientation
  
• Limited arm mobility
  
• Temporary unconsciousness

Especially with hip injuries or severe bruises, it is often difficult for those affected to move at all.

Stress can also play a role. In unfamiliar situations, the body reacts with adrenaline. This can lead to people initially not acting clearly or simply forgetting the emergency call bracelet.

An important, but often underestimated, factor is routine. Many people repeatedly take off their emergency wristband in everyday life. While sleeping, showering, or watching TV, it might be lying on the table. This leads to the device not being perceived as a natural part of everyday life. However, practical experience shows that systems are used most reliably when they are worn like a watch.

Helpful habits include, for example:

• putting on the emergency wristband first thing in the morning
  
• wearing it at night as well
  
• regularly testing it with family members

The more familiar the system is, the more intuitively it will be used in an emergency.

Many relatives assume that an emergency call will be triggered immediately if help is needed. The reality is often more complicated.

A common reason is the fear of being a burden to others.

Especially people who have been very independent throughout their lives find it uncomfortable to need help.

Open conversations can significantly reduce this inhibition threshold.

For example, it helps to explain:

• The emergency call is intended precisely for such situations
  
• When in doubt, an alarm is always useful
  
• A false alarm is less problematic than waiting too long

This understanding relieves many people of the worry of alarming someone "unnecessarily".

Some modern emergency call systems offer additional safety features in addition to the classic emergency button. This includes automatic fall detection. Sensors in the device analyze movement patterns and can detect typical fall movements. If no movement is detected for a longer period of time thereafter, an alarm can be triggered automatically.

This is particularly helpful in situations where those affected:

• cannot reach the button
  
• are unconscious
  
• initially underestimate the fall
  

Such systems do not replace attentiveness, but can provide an additional safety net.

The Gardia emergency wristband combines the classic emergency button with integrated fall detection. If a possible fall is detected, an alarm can be triggered automatically so that help is notified.

Especially in situations where the emergency button cannot be actively pressed, this additional function can help to organize support more quickly.

That the button of an emergency call wristband is sometimes not pressed in an emergency is not a rare phenomenon. The reasons usually lie not in the technology, but in human behavior or in the situation itself. Precisely for this reason, it is important to use the system regularly in everyday life, to reduce inhibitions, and to use additional safety functions sensibly.

Ultimately, it's not just about technology. It's about designing security in such a way that people can continue to live their everyday lives independently.