Thursday, April 10, 2008

USA TODAY HIGHLIGHTS DANGERS OF HOME FALLS, ONE OF MANY HOME EMERGENCIES ADDRESSED BY LIFE ALERT

Life Alert enables subscribers to get immediate help after a fall, even if they can’t reach a phone – giving seniors peace of mind and a feeling of security

USA TODAY recently ran a feature story that raised awareness about the dangers of falls suffered in the home. The article noted that a number of famous people have recently suffered falls, often requiring a trip to the hospital. One of the scary aspects of falls is that they can happen to anyone, regardless of societal status, income level, gender or age. However, it is well known that the older we get, the more susceptible we become to falls. One of the main risks is falling at home and then not being able to reach a phone to call for help. Most people don’t carry cellphones on them while at home; even if they do, it may be damaged during a fall, it may not have a signal, or it may be impossible to access depending on how one falls and the severity of injuries suffered. In short, people need a better solution to address the dangers of falls.

Life Alert is that solution. Life Alert Emergency Response, the personal medical alarm company, has been protecting seniors from the dangers of home falls for over two decades. The company’s spokesman, former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D., has pointed out that falling is the “leading cause of injury death for Americans 65 and older” – a sobering statistic. Making matters worse is that the risks increase as we advance in age, since our ability to call for help after a fall (and one’s odds of surviving any injuries suffered) becomes limited.

This need for protection -- no matter where you fall in your home, no matter what hour a fall occurs -- is at the heart of Life Alert’s protection service. Life Alert handles over a million calls a year, and on average saves a life every 40 minutes, saving over 13,000 lives in 2007 alone. For many seniors, Life Alert is an invaluable asset they simply cannot live without.

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