abusive relationship
bad neighborhood
emergency
fire
flood
help needed
in case of emergency
lifeline
Lifeline (Personal Emergency Response System)
By dmillman
@dmillman (2273)
United States
November 20, 2007 10:06am CST
Yes, most of you remember the old commercial from one of Lifeline's now defunct competitor's, "I've fallen, and I can't get up!" This is how people remember this type of service, and why they assume that it's only for old people, or young people with disabilities. Well, that's not 100% true. It's for anyone and everyone, no matter what your age, health, gneder, etc. is, and I can vouch for it myself, as I'm a 33 year old female, who has used her Lifeline three times since receiving it.
You're probably wondering why a healthy 33 year old would have a Lifeline unit, right? Well, to tell you the truth, it's because I work for Lifeline, so I get a free unit. THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT since I work for them. This is how it's helped me, and how it could help others as well.
I love free things, so I decided to get the free unit. My husband works a 3rd shift job two-nights a week to supplement our income, so I'm home alone. Our neighborhood is kind of scary sometimes, so I thought I'd feel safer having the free Lifeline unit.....never thinking that I'd actually have to use it for myself.
Well, a couple of months ago, I fell a few times and had to press the help needed button for my hubby to come help me, which he did. I just used it yesterday when I fell again. He was upstairs and didn't hear the fall, but he heard the voice over the intercom and came down to help me. We're still trying to determine the nature of the falls........that's a whole different story.
When I ended up in the ER because of these falls, the ER nurse couldn't understand why I had a Lifeline, since I was so young, and healthy (until this year). She didn't like my real reason, so I told her that it's because I work for them and get it for free, and that shut her up.
I think it's wrong for people to assume that only old people and disabled young people should have a Lifeline. I think that everyone should have one. Do you live in a bad neighborhood, get a Lifeline unit. Are you in an abusive relationship, get a Lifeline unit. Are you home alone some or all of the time, get a Lifeline unit. Live near a flood-zone, get a Lifeline. Live near a fire-zone, get a Lifeline.
I never thought that I'd need to use mine, and I did, and I've been grateful ever since. So please help me spread the word, that you don't have to be old, or a disabled young person to wear/use a Lifeline. Also, they could get any brand of a Personal Emergency Response System, it doesn't have to be Lifeline in particular. Just get one. I think that if more healthy young people wear/use them, that there won't be such a "bad image" surrounding these wonderful systems.
OK, I'm getting off my soap box, sorry about that! I'm just looking out for my fellow mLotians!!!
2 people like this
5 responses
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
21 Nov 07
Nothing against that. I think that many people should invest in systems that help them if there is an emergengy.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
21 Nov 07
I don't know if this is enough for me to get a lifeline..but a few years ago I had surgery on my brain, I had nerve damage and suffer from balance problems as a result of the surgery, then followed it up a few months later with knee surgery. Well at the time, I was trying to install DSL and out of frustration decided to just get rid of it.
Well, 2 or 3 days after the knee surgery, I crawled under the desk to remove the cables and well I got stuck..I could not move to get out of there. I laid there for about 4 hours until my son came home to help me get up.
1 person likes this
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
21 Nov 07
Anything that makes you feel safer and more secure is a good enough reason, don't you think? Heck, I used to be against cell phones, until my hubby and I just about broke down on the highway, and realized that if it were me alone, he'd worry about me, so we got cell phones. Now we use them constantly. It's better to be safe than sorry!
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
20 Nov 07
Unexpected things can happen anytime. Just a few weeks ago, our pastor fell down his basement steps. He was amazed he could do that. The door to the bathroom is right next to the door going down to the basement. He had had some guests in his home and the basement door was left ajar. Later, I think during the night, he entered the door that was ajar, thinking it was the bathroom and found himself at the bottom of the stairs with a broken rib, a wrenched shoulder and a punctured lung! Having lived in the house for 25 years, he was amazed something like this could happen. He was lucky he was able to get himself up and walk back upstairs to get help! It could have been much worse! Since I can't walk well, only a few steps at a time with my cane, I'm thinking it would probably not hurt to have something like this for myself. If I ever fell, I don't know if I would be able to get up by myself.
1 person likes this
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
20 Nov 07
Thanks esterlou. I think you're right, that you should have something like that. You never know when you're gonna need it. It's almost like car insurance or health insurance, you get it just in case you need it, hoping that you won't have to use it, but feeling comforted that it's there if you need it.
During my falls, I lose consiousness (sp?) so who knows how long I could be down and out for. It take my husband a bit to get me to snap out of it. I'm just afraid of how long I could be out for if no one was there to help me. Now I wear mine any time I'm home alone, of if hubby is upstairs or in the basement and might not hear me fall.
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
20 Nov 07
lol...I'm not THAT old and have thought about getting one. I've taken quite a few falls in my apartment but thankfully none of them were serious enough for me to need help. I have fallen down my cellar stairs and wished I had my cell phone on me...lol! I don't see anything wrong with you having one especially if it was free. My mom has one and it makes me sleep a lot easier at night knowing that she does.
1 person likes this
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
21 Nov 07
Hahahahaha! See, you brought age into it. Age has nothing to do with it. I think peope automatically think that you have to be old or disabled to get one, but you don't. I'm trying to use the forum to get the word out that you don't have to be old and/or disabled in order to need/want one.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
20 Nov 07
I am only 31 and last year I jumped over a toy in the living room in my way and when I came back down I landed on my ankle wrong I did not know if it was broke or sprained really bad. Luckily my 11 year old was home and I yelled for him to bring me the phone to call my husband as I could not stand on my ankle to go to the doctor. If my son had not been home I don't know what I would have done. I suppose a lifeline would have been nice to have then.
1 person likes this
