Important Information You Should Know
BECAUSE NO ONE CAN PREDICT WHEN IT IS NEEDED
You should wear your activator button at all possible times! Yes, our activators are waterproof and/or water resistant and should be worn or kept within reach while bathing. Your user guide can give you more information on this for your particular device. Activator buttons are intended to be worn ALL the time, while working, playing, sleeping, since no one can predict when they might be needed.
YOU SHOULD THINK OF IT LIKE THE REFRIGERATOR
Your button activator and system should be tested by you each week. Think of it this way, if your refrigerator door was never opened how would you know for certain that it was still working, and how would the repairman know it needed service if no one called him? Your medical alert system is just like that! Like any other appliance in your home, it can enhance the quality of your life, but only if it is working. And just like any other appliance in your home it is your responsibility to maintain it. The minimum you should test is once each month, however, to ensure optimum performance we advise you to press your activator button (the one you wear) each week. Speak to the operator, tell them you are testing. It only takes a minute! If this test should fail call 800-645-3244. If they cannot assist you call us at 888-477-7513.
BECAUSE THE PURPOSE OF THIS SYSTEM IS TO GET EMERGENCY HELP
Use of this system can result in the Paramedics, at their discretion, using FORCED ENTRY into your home, even in the event of a false alarm. If you have asked us to contact the Paramedics FIRST in the event that the operator is unable to speak with you or reach you by phone when your system is activated, the likelihood of Forced Entry increases. Please consider this carefully and advise us if you would like to list additional personal responders; family, neighbors, friends, with keys as your first contacts. You can also obtain a KEY SAFE type lock box for your doorknob. This is inexpensive and would securely hold a key to your home for emergency entry. This can be purchased at Home Depot or many other hardware stores. If you are unable to locate one in your area we are happy to provide one to you at a nominal cost. If you obtain a KEY SAFE type lock box please provide the monitoring station the lock box combination so that we can provide it to the Paramedics in an emergency.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO PURCHASE YOUR EQUIPMENT AND NEITHER DO WE
Your medical alert equipment is the property of American Medical Alert Corp (AMAC) and is on loan to you from Hardiman Support Services (HSS), your AMAC service provider. It is your responsibility to return the equipment to HSS when you no longer need the service. HSS is billed by AMAC up to $500 for your equipment if it is not returned. This charge can be passed on to you or your estate. Please be certain to advise someone you know that your equipment is on loan and must be returned when you no longer need it. Just call us at 888-477-7513, we will even pay for the shipping!
PHONE SERVICE MATTERS
For home-based systems – VoIP PHONE SERVICE MAY PUT YOU AT A RISK YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. VoIP phone service is low cost phone that replaces your traditional telephone service. It can be service from your internet or cable provider, independent VoIP such as Vonage or Magic Jack, or even from you traditional phone company as an internet bundled package. It does not include traditional phone service that includes DSL, but your phone service is still provided in a traditional manner. VoIP users do not have phone service during power failures or internet outages, this means neither your phone nor your Medical Alert will work! Your Medical Alert System was designed to work with regular telephone service. If you have VoIP service it is your responsibility to verify with your VoIP provider that your medical alert service is compatible with their service. VoIP phone service can be a tremendous cost saver, especially if you are on a fixed income. If you never experience power failures or internet outages and are in good health you may decide that the cost savings is worth the risk. However, if you experience many outages or are in frail health you should know that the cost savings may not be worth the risk to your life. Call us if you have concerns about this, we may have solutions to offer.
For home-based cellular and mobile systems: Just like your cell phone, for cellular and mobile systems, your device must be able to connect to it’s assigned cellular carrier before being able to connect to an emergency operator. Test your device in and around your home and areas that you frequent to insure that there is adequate cellular service there.