"I'm not ready yet." That's exactly why 60,000 people wear this emergency bracelet.

Many people consider a panic button bracelet not because they want to restrict their daily lives, but for the exact opposite reason: they want to continue going to the bakery alone, working in the garden, and riding their e-bikes. And they don't want someone at home nervously checking the phone.

Safety is not the opposite of freedom. It can be precisely what ensures that no one starts talking you out of doing things.

We hear this sentence particularly often. This is rarely about the technology, but rather the fear of suddenly being treated as someone who needs to be checked on more often.

And this is precisely where classic emergency call devices have a problem: A red button around your neck immediately tells everyone "I need help." Gardia aims to avoid that.

The home emergency alarm keeps you at home.

The base station has a range of a few meters. Outside, where you would actually be out and about, the button is useless.

The smartwatch constantly needs to be plugged in.

Most models are charged daily and sit on their charging cradle at night. Which is precisely when trips to the bathroom become dangerous.

The lanyard is often not worn at all.

It looks like something from a hospital, so it ends up in a drawer.

And there, it helps no one.

What the three alternatives can do and where they fall short, side-by-side:

No technician appointment is needed at home: the eSIM is active from the factory, no mobile contract, no Wi-Fi, no base station.

Setup can be completed in advance while the package is still in transit. The link in the shipping email leads to a web portal, either in a browser or on a mobile phone: create an account, enter payment details, add emergency contacts. A family member can take care of this, even remotely.

This means the bracelet is set up in advance. When it arrives, it just needs to be placed in the charging cradle once, and then it's ready for use. Alternatively, anyone who prefers can do everything at once via the My Gardia App once the bracelet has arrived.

Many expect ongoing costs and therefore don't do it.

There are two plans, and the first month of either is free.

Basic — £15.95 a month: automatic fall detection, the app, and alerts to the people you choose.
Plus — £27.90 a month: everything in Basic, plus the 24/7 emergency call centre.

You pick your plan in the app once the bracelet arrives, and you can switch or cancel at the end of any month.

Setting up happens online: you get a link by email, create the account and add your emergency contacts. No paperwork, no post, no phone calls.

You can change contacts, plans and settings any time in the My Gardia app.

The device costs a one-time fee of instead of .

Then there is the monthly plan:

£15.95 a month for Basic, which alerts the people you choose, or £27.90 a month for Plus, which adds the 24/7 Bosch emergency call centre.

You pick your plan later in the app, in your own time. The first month is free and you can cancel at the end of any month.

Nothing renews on its own. If you do nothing after the free month, the plan simply ends.

And if it doesn't fit into your daily life, you can return it within 30 days. Return shipping is free: you will receive a return label from customer service.