Medical Safety Alerts in an Emergency
Medical Alert Systems are personal alert systems designed to connect users to emergency response systems (911 – police, ambulance, fire department) when traditional methods (like making a phone call) may not be an accessible option due to functional disabilities.
Note: Medical Alert Systems are NOT to be confused with medical alert notifications that are traditionally sent out by federal and local governments in the case of natural disasters.
There are several different kinds of Medical Alert Systems; however, there are two general categories of Medical Alert Systems: 1. Monitored Alert Systems and 2. Unmonitored Alert Systems
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Monitored Alert Systems will call an agent who can quickly assess your situation and call 911 or your emergency contacts if necessary. Monitored systems offer more features but do incur a monthly charge. Monitored systems usually comprise wearable devices like button necklaces or watches.
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Unmonitored Alert Systems are not connected to a central response center and will call numbers that are pre-programmed into the system. Unmonitored systems may also include wearable devices like button necklaces and smartwatches, but may also include smart devices like smartphones and smart speakers.
Living with functional disabilities often requires connecting with and communicating with loved ones and caretakers who might be elsewhere in the home. We will cover those options as well. It is best to preemptively have measures in place to navigate an emergency before one ever arises.
Smart Phone & Smart Watch Features Checklist
Below are the YouTube videos linked in the QR codes in the downloadable PDF “iPhone & Apple Watch Features Checklist” to the right.
Emergency SOS
Fall Detection
Digital Medical ID
Walkie-Talkie
Have a Samsung Smart Phone?
This linked website below goes over how to set this up for Samsung:
Other In-Home Smart Devices to Consider
Smart Home Speakers
Smart Home Speakers (from Google, Apple, Amazon) with assistants like Alexa or Siri enable not only room-to-room intercom communication to speak to someone in another room, but they can also contact EMS in case of an emergency.
2-Way Intercom System
Two-way intercom systems are third-party systems that can be set up in various areas around the home.
Baby Monitors or 2-Way Cameras
These are a great alternative for a caregiver to keep tabs on you when they leave the room, or for loved ones to check in when they are away from home, to make sure there is no emergency, to contact EMS when they notice an emergency, or to simply help you navigate an emergency. These are different than an iPad because they are always active and don’t require accepting an incoming call. (They usually do light up to let you know that someone is actively watching you for privacy reasons.
Other
Physical Medical ID
These physical bracelets let EMS know your name and note an ALS diagnosis so that EMS can proceed with the necessary precautions.
References
Daniel About Tech. (2024, May 5). How to Set Up and Use Medical ID on Your iPhone - It May Save Your Life!! [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVEWGP8Bzm8
How to Add Emergency Contact & Medical Info on Phone Lock Screen | Samsung UK. (2024, April 30). Samsung Uk. https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-to-use-galaxy-device-in-an-emergency-to-contact-emergency-contacts-and-view-important-medical-information/
Lifeline | Medical Alert Systems. (n.d.). Lifeline. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://www.lifeline.com/
LifeStation Sidekick: Reliable Medical Alert for ALS Safety. (2024, September 12). LifeStation. https://www.lifestation.com/medical-alert-systems/als-patients/
Medical Alert IDs for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) | American Medical ID. (n.d.). Www.Americanmedical-Id.Com. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://www.americanmedical-id.com/als
Medical Care Alert | Medical Alert Systems for Seniors. (2025). Medicalcarealert.Com. https://www.medicalcarealert.com/