When you think of a medical alert system--like the type you see advertised on television from time to time--you probably have a passing thought that such a device must be incredibly helpful to elderly persons still living independently. But then you dismiss it as a necessity exclusive to the elderly.

Not so. Like Medical Alert bracelets or dog tags that some individuals wear which provide details about a specific medical condition so that it is easily accessible in an emergency, Medical Alert systems provide peace of mind and safety to individuals with potentially life-threatening health problems, no matter what their age.

I know this from experience. I personally suffer from a potentially lethal combination: asthma and Long QT Syndrome, a rare genetic heart arrhythmia which can sometimes lead the heart to spontaneously stop beating, causing death. The respiratory complications from asthma flare-ups only aggravate the abnormality in the heartbeat.

It sounds scary, doesn't it? Well, it doesn't have to be. Working closely with physicians and monitoring medications has helped me to live a relatively normal life.

And because I keep in close communication with emergency contacts--including neighbors, friends, and local family members--and rely partially on a medical alert system, I feel much more protected than I would be without it.

Just like they sound, medical alert systems allow individuals to "alert," emergency services when they are in a position that keeps them from using the telephone to call for help. This often involves the use of a badge that is worn around the neck or on the person somehow. With the press of a button, help can be reached.

While this is particularly beneficial for seniors, who may be victims of stroke or a bad fall which may break one or several bones, it can also be used to help others, such as children with juvenile diabetes who may be old enough to stay at home by themselves but can still be subject to the effects of their disease.

Because medical alert systems are meant to be a support system for the ill and/or elderly, they typically do not work more than a few hundred feet outside of the home.

That is why medical alert systems should be coupled with bracelets, necklaces, or ID tags for all individuals with preexisting conditions. Bracelets or other worn indicators are meant to provide vital information if an emergency arises in a public situation.
If you have a loved one--elderly or not--that has a medical condition that may leave them unable to call for help, a medical alert system is a gift of empowerment and peace of mind.