Last Updated on November 8, 2022
A robber broke into the home of a 99-year-old woman one summer evening in July 2022. This happened in single-family home in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The elderly lady was working on a crossword puzzle at around 9:30 pm, when a man in a mask came from behind her and demanded money. She was assaulted and stabbed in her hand.
Fortunately, the elderly lady was able to send an alert through her medical alert bracelet. Deputies from the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office arrived to find her wounded in her hand.
“The call actually came in from a medic alert necklace. The victim was able to make the call herself,” said Corey Webb with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office (Source: WDBJ7).
Her assailant had even cut off her home phone line to prevent her from calling for help. Lucky for her, she was still able to initiate an alert through her medical alert necklace button.
The news report did not say how the alert call got through. It was possible that this went through a separate cellular connection. Newer cellular-based medical alert systems no longer require a home phone line to work.
The elderly lady was transported to Roanoke Hospital where she was treated for her wounds. She was able to safely return home soon after. Her son and family members were there for her. Her son also spoke up for her when interviewed by a TV crew.
This is understandably a traumatic experience, one that will take time to heal. We wish her the best in her recovery.
What are medical alert systems?
Medical alert buttons and devices allow seniors and others to reach help quickly in case of accidents or emergencies. The newer on-the-go models no longer need a landline connection, are able to work both in and out of the home, and reliably transmit GPS data to a specialized monitoring center. They work like Life Alert, except that there are more brands and features available to consumers these days. Learn more
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