When to use a Panic Button

A panic button is a small button that can be worn as part of a personal alarm system. Pressing the panic button quickly raises an alert, connecting you to a 24-hour Emergency Resolution team who can arrange help if you feel unwell, have a fall, or face any other emergency.            

The personal alarm system itself includes both the panic button and the base unit that links you to trained operators. While the personal alarm provides the service and connection, the panic button is the wearable you carry with you to call for help instantly.

In this article, we outline the forms a panic button comes in and how it works.

What forms do panic buttons come in?

Panic buttons usually come in the form of a pendant that can be worn around your neck or a bracelet that can be worn around your wrist.

A panic button can be part of different systems:

• One that works in the home and garden
• A location-aware GPS alarm or watch that also works when you are out and about

You may be worried about a panic button being bulky or uncomfortable to wear; however, they are designed to be discreet. They won’t get in the way, so you can carry on with everyday tasks and forget that you’re even wearing one. However you choose to wear it, you should make sure that you have it on 24/7.       

Many of Age Co’s personal alarms are water resistant, making it safe to wear the panic button in the bath or shower. It’s important to keep it on when you’re washing, as slips and falls are more likely to occur in the bathroom.

When should you use your panic button?

Your panic button can be used whenever you feel unwell or if you have an accident at home or when out-and-about. Don’t hesitate if you’re uncertain - it’s important that you use your alarm when you need to so that someone can check that you’re okay.

Falls are the most common cause of injury-related deaths in people aged 75 and over. If you experience a fall, using the panic button could alert someone straight away, enabling you to get the help you need quickly.

How does a panic button work?

A panic button is designed to call for help quickly if you feel unwell, have a fall, or experience another emergency. Pressing it usually connects you to a monitoring service or your chosen emergency contacts. The service can check on your situation, alert others, or contact the emergency services if you don’t respond.

How different systems work:

• Most panic buttons connect to a 24/7 monitoring centre for immediate assistance.
• Some devices alert pre-set emergency contacts directly instead of a monitoring service.
• Features such as GPS location tracking, fall detection, or battery backup vary between providers.
• Some systems allow accidental alerts to be cancelled easily to prevent unnecessary responses.

In an emergency, when you press your panic button, Age Co panic buttons connect you to directly with an Emergency Resolution team through a built-in microphone and speaker. They will know who you are and where you live, even if you are unable to speak, and will arrange for help to reach you.

You can either push the panic button on your wearable pendant or push the large help button on the main base unit. Either of these options will connect you to the 24-hour Emergency Resolution team.

Once you’ve pushed the button, you’ll be connected to Taking Care’s Resolution team. Taking Care aims to answer alarm calls within 30 seconds, so you shouldn’t need to wait long. Once an operator has answered, they'll know who you are, where you live, and your medical history, so you don't have to explain any of this. Simply tell them why you've pushed the button and what the situation is. 

If, for any reason, the operator is unable to hear you, they’ll call your home telephone. If there’s still no response, they’ll get in touch with your emergency contact or the emergency services to check on you.

Setting up your panic button

When you first get your panic button and set the system up, you’ll be asked to provide the details of a couple of people who can be contacted in an emergency. This should be someone who is able to respond and get to your house to check on you. It might be a son, daughter, grandchild, friend or neighbour. Make sure that any emergency contacts are aware that they will be contacted when needed so it isn't a surprise to them.

In order for your family to gain access to your house should they need to, you should always take your key out of the door when you’re at home. If you leave it in, your emergency contact might not be able to get in with their own key. If they don’t have one, it may be worth having a secure key safe installed outside your home.

Depending on the system, you may also need to install a base unit or hub. Some personal alarm systems use a base unit to connect the panic button to a monitoring service or mobile network, while others rely entirely on mobile connectivity. It’s also important to ensure the device is working correctly, that it covers the range of your home and garden, and that any battery or power backup is functioning as intended.

Setup can vary between providers. Some systems alert only your emergency contacts, while others connect to a 24-hour monitoring centre. Installation may be self or require professional setup.

Base unit features

Some of Age Co’s personal alarms come with a base unit that connects to the strongest mobile network available using two pre-fitted multi-network SIMs.

• The base unit for your alarm can be used in the rare event that your pendant runs out of battery. The base unit for your alarm can be used in the rare event that your pendant runs out of battery.
• The base unit has a range of up to 300 metres, meaning it will work even when you’re in the garden.
• It also has a battery backup of 40 hours, so you can still make an alarm call during a power cut.
• If you press the button by accident, you can shake the pendant or press the cancel button on the base unit to cancel the call.

They're designed to make you feel safe at home and when you are out-and-about, whether you live alone or with a partner. Should anything happen, you know that help is never too far away.

Summary

A panic button, as part of a personal alarm system, is a simple and effective way to stay safe at home and when out-and-about. Key points to remember:

• Wear your panic button at all times, including in the home, garden, or bathroom, so you can raise an alert quickly if needed.
• Make sure your emergency contacts know they may be called and are able to respond.
• Check that your base unit is correctly installed and covers your home and garden.
• Use your panic button whenever you feel unwell, have a fall, or are in any situation where you need help - it’s always better to be safe.