A wireless pendant is a personal transmitter that forms part of an emergency call system. The system itself may be either hardwired, wireless, or a combination, and it may serve a variety of purposes. Although the personal transmitter is referred to as a pendant, there are also bracelet or anklet models, as well as styles to attach to a belt of chain or to fit in a pocket.
Wireless pendants can serve a variety of purposes. One of the main purposes is to allow the wearer to call for help. This type of operation is sometimes called a panic alarm or a personal emergency response system. It can be activated by someone who has a medical emergency or a safety issue, such as a break-in.
Second, a wireless pendant may act as a fall alert. Some are particularly structured to be able to determine if a wearer has fallen. These two uses can be beneficial for people in assisted living facilities. People with epilepsy, which can result in falls, may also benefit.
For people working in hazardous situations, such as in hazardous industries or in correctional facilities, a wireless pendant can form part of a man-down system, alerting a response team if the person is in a horizontal position. Thus if a worker is exposed to an environmentally hazardous material or gets into a difficult situation and is unable to summon assistance, the emergency call system acts on his or her behalf, often after sounding warning beeps to indicate that the alarm is going to be set off.
A wireless pendant can also serve as a locator. They generally give the location from which the alarm is sounded, but some are additionally set to go off when a certain point is passed. This allows users, such as patients with dementia who might wander, to be found before they get too far away from home or a facility.
Other features that may be found in wireless pendants include a water resistant case so that people with health issues can wear them during a shower or bath, and a warning if the battery is low. Pendants feature different alternatives for canceling calls, and can be set up for alarms to go to various places, including a central location in a facility or a local police or fire department or ambulance service.
