Medical Alarm Service Monitors (part 2)

When selecting a medical alarm service provider, choose one that offers service 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. Be sure to ask if there are ever any periods when service is not provided.

Confirm the notification policies of the service provider. Are the response agents trained to evaluate the level of emergency and qualified to determine whether to first call your perferred contact person or an EMS unit?

Ideally, you should choose a provider with response agents who have received 911 training. 911 training ensures the call response agent knows how to handle more serious emergencies such as a heart attack, stroke, or seizure. Such serious emergencies are not the time to find out that your response agent doesn't understand the difference between calling a relative to provide basic aid and calling an EMS unit.

Ask whether the service provider's facility is certified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL). UL certification ensures that the facility has been inspected and met stringent standards for operation during emergency conditions.

To receive UL certification, facilities must submit to an extensive review and have implemented approved backup systems for their phone lines and electrical power to ensure continuous operation. Additionally, UL certified facilities are sufficiently protected to prevent internal fire from spreading to vital systems areas.

Read Medical Alarm Service Monitors (part 1)

This review is reprinted from and is credited to The Consumer Advisory Council