A personal alarm is a small device that triggers a loud sound when you are in danger. But, are these personal alarms safe in every situation? Can you keep it with you at every place? These are questions that you may think about while buying. We have answered all the questions with brief information about each.
Why Are Personal Alarms Safe To Buy?
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They emit a sound between 120dB and 140dB when activated. Enough to startle a nearby assailant. And no need to wait to check that your alarm has the expected effect; just drop it and run away. It can track, detect falls for older people. Emergency services will be there in time. Even if can’t reach them both online and offline to help.
- Attention is the attacker’s worst enemy.
- Personal alarms are legal to carry in all states and on aeroplanes.
- Very safe method of non-violent self-defence.
- They need no training or skill to operate and can be used by anyone regardless of age or physical ability.
- Criminals prefer to run off when the alarm cannot be stopped.
- Useful for women’s safety. These devices are used to protect when they feel uncomfortable or in emergencies.
- Personal alarms to prevent attacks against women.
- The United States and the UK police departments recommend police-approved alarms.
- People can carry them when travelling, running, biking, or doing anything alone.
- Children and elders can easily alert others if lost or injured.
- Especially in remote locations, construction areas, and travelling.
What Does It Monitor?
A personal alarm only monitors three things –
- GPS
- Change in speed
- Sudden movements followed by no movement to alert a fall.
It uses a SIM card to send calls & texts and GPS for location.
It has an SOS button to send an immediate alert to a call centre if subscribed to premium plans. Or you can program a contact list.
Deciding Factors To Buy
1. Activation Method
- Consider the easy way to use and operate for yourself.
- Pulling the keychain alarm and Pushing the button will activate to alert.
- Use and buy what’s comfortable and effortless.
2. Alarm Sound Level
- Sirens between 120dB and 140dB are the standard for a loud sound. It will be very uncomfortable for everyone so does the assailer.
- Produces a high sound siren to scare away everyone around you including the attacker.
- Would not be loud enough if it doesn’t fall in this sound range. Customer reviews provide you with the needed details to make a decision. Always choose a good siren loud enough for your household.
3. Carrying Method
- Comes in the form of a keychain, pendant, wristwatch.
- Even in rings, no one notices in the finger of a woman.
- A pendant is to wear around your neck. Smartwatch is on your wrist.
- But watches are difficult to use due to small buttons and touch screens.
- Keychains can be carried with handbags.
How Many Do You Need?
Sometimes you might need more than one for your family members, colleagues, or partners. Consider before making a final decision for the loved ones. Buying many provides a more cost-effective deal. If you do need many, it’s a smart move to look for those deals.
What To Choose?
a. Size
High-quality personal alarms have compact and small constructions. It doesn’t make sense to buy an option with a bulk design. Because you want it to be comfortable to carry.
Most of them are compact and lightweight. But it is better to avoid buying one that’s too small.
But it’s essential to find a balance of size. An alarm should not be hard to locate when an emergency does occur. So buyers need to look at measurements before buying it. Provides you with a better idea of the alarm’s size.
b. Battery life
Longer battery life is always useful. At least, capable enough for 24 hours or throughout the day.
c. Charging dock
Charging in a cradle is useful for elders. Some models have magnetic connectors that make it easier to plug the cable in.
d. Fall detection
Alerts when the person with the device falls suddenly.
e. Certification
Products that connect to mobile networks must be compliant with specified requirements. This includes personal alarms. There’s no way to confirm that products are ready to buy/sell without this registration.
f. Geo-fencing
Alerts when went outside the known areas. Works by setting a virtual fence. Sends an alert if crossed the fence.
Geo-fencing can create a map for privileged areas.
g. GPS location
To track the user. Being inside tall buildings, and dense developments might affect GPS location. Some in apps and others text the GPS coordinates.
h. Non-movement alarm
Alerts if detects no movement for a specified time limit.
i. Number of contacts
Some model accepts a contact list. Better if you have more contacts. Cycles through contacts until one of them answer it.
j. Ping Frequency
Refers to GPS monitoring. Alerts based on frequent, occasional, or when left the geo-fenced boundary. Fast consumption of battery for great ping frequency and it could end up useless by the day.
k. Speed Alarm
Alerts if the device starts moving rapidly if the wearer gets into a car or train.
l. Water And Dust Resistance
The IP rating is the factor that determines the product’s dust and water-resistant.
As always, higher numbers equal protection levels. It is tested in pure water. Foreign substances such as soap or mud could ruin the performance.
Buy protective casing or bags if you want them to be water and dust-resistant.
m. Clips
Check if the clips are durable or not. Most users won’t even consider it but it has to do the job. No one wants to lose the device because of fewer quality clips.
After going through all these points, choose the best locker lock for your home and personal use.
Details Of Models
The basic pendant model has a huge SOS button which is not hard to press during an emergency. Simple and has individual call buttons on the side.
No screen to provide feedback like the remaining battery charge and who’s calling.
As the basic models but the screen that provides status to display. But it adds more extra weight 10 – 20 grams and consumes more battery power.
Looks like a smartwatch, which is more inconspicuous than a pendant. Uses a touchscreen with small buttons on the side. You can customize, even install extra apps on some models.
It’s hard to use in emergencies like a fall. Better to press a single SOS button than scroll through contacts in an inch screen. Hard to read the text and icons on that small screen.
Cost Of Safe Personal Alarm
Features such as location tracking, automated location updates may up the price.
Price range from $100 to $600. It may not include the price of the optional subscription or SIM card/service.
The Commonwealth has programs that provide services for individual independent living. Through this program devices’ prices may be lower or sometimes free.
Veterans can receive support through their government programs. Community services and manufacturers offer financial support on a case-by-case basis.
Health insurance providers may offer support. Not a standard practice but it is worth asking.
Alarms are designed to alert selective contacts. Otherwise, a 24-hour call centre if you pay a $20-$40 fee per month. Subscription services can clear every problem you have.
Like you could miss a phone alert due to sleep hours, poor reception, or forgetting your phone.
It monitors constantly for fall alerts, GPS monitors, and two-way communication. Alerts if there’s any or no change in the user’s behaviour if no movement or sudden fall. Call centres will quickly assess any serious situation if emergency services are needed. Along with the alarm you can also have some good self defence products specifically for women under your budget.
How To Get the Best Personal Alarm?
Mobile alarms enable you to communicate directly through the pendant and work anywhere. but landline alarms can be more reliable. They almost have signal but not always, are easier to use, waterproof, and need no charging.
GPS ability: Enables you to locate quickly. If you want to include fall detection for the elderly, it may consist of in the price. Alerts if it detects a fall even if the button wasn’t used. Get yourself a good GPS personal alarm to be safe outdoor.
Where To Install?
Traditional alarms use two paired devices to make emergency calls. There is a pendant worn around the neck or the wrist. This sends an emergency signal to a box plugged into the landline.
This box has a speaker and microphone in it and will call a monitoring centre or members of the family. You will be able to speak to them and describe the type of emergency if you are close to the box.
The real downside is that the button has a limited range. It means that it will not help if you are out of range.
Final Talk
These things work only when the battery has a charge in it. Not just don’t, never forget to charge these things always. Remember, it is loud winks old people so be cautious. Not a toy to play with within any given situation other than a real emergency. If it isn’t user-friendly and offers protection, none of this matters.
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