As a child, snow is better than a sunny day at the beach, or any other type of weather. But as time goes on, and children grow into an adult, and then an elderly, the cold season becomes a source of concern rather than a time of joy. The snow needs to be scooped from the front yard, the heating bills skyrocket, the roads are slippery because of the ice. But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as many other dangers are threatening the life of elderly.
Every year the news is full of stories of seniors who had to be rescued from burning buildings, or who were found unconscious on the floor from CO poisoning. During the past winter season, two noteworthy cases were added to the list. In Brunswick a wheel-chair bound man caused a fire in his living room while placing fresh logs into the fireplace. To make things worse, his own wheelchair was aflame, and his lower body was badly burned. What eventually saved the man’s life was his Lifeline medical alert button. Even though the man was obviously heavily panicking, he managed to tap the button on his button to get help underway.
Luckily, the senior in the second case was just as successful in pressing the button for help. As opposed to the previous event, the source of the crisis was cold water, not fire, yet the solution was the same. Two elderly fishers plunged into the icy water on Lake Kegonsa near the town of Dunn. They were riding an ATV when it fell through the ice and sank, dragging its riders along. Luckily for them, one of the victims had a medical alert button, so they could call out for help. This proves that in a crisis situation the most convenient solutions are the best; those that don’t need complex actions, such as fiddling with a smartphone.
Fire and freeze are just the heralds of the problems a senior must face during the cold weather. They are prone to fall more often than others, but they find it more difficult to get up on their feet. Their bones break easily, and one fatal fall can be their last. This is a danger that lurks in the house as well, especially in the bathroom. Be sure to take your medical alert button with you while showering (it is waterproof) or when visiting the toilet at night. A fire or smoke alarm should be set up in the living room as well, because the fireplace can cause some serious trouble. A CO sensor is a splendid addition for the home of any elderly who suffers from forgetfulness and might leave the car running. And don’t forget about other environment detectors to avoid nasty surprises when going down the basement to get the Christmas decorations.
Still, the best way to avoid the dangers of winter altogether is for elderly to go on a vacation during this time of year. Why not follow the birds and migrate to a place with sunnier weather? This way they can avoid the cold, all the diseases, the icy roads, the poisonous CO and every other nuisance we just listed. Taking a winter vacation also provides a big dose of sunshine, which not only makes them happier, but healthier as well. Not to mention all the fun memories they collect on the beach! Just because seniors are in a warmer and healthier place doesn’t mean they don’t need the extra safety net anymore though. A mobile medical alert button that relies on GPS and the mobile network makes sure they can call for assistance from anywhere in the U.S.
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