More than 4,000 people use mobile emergency call system in Vorarlberg

More than 4,000 people in Vorarlberg use the Red Cross’s mobile emergency call system, which connects users to the rescue and fire control centre at the push of a button, ORF reports.

Most users are older people who live alone, said Fabian Karnekar, head of health and social services at the Red Cross. Younger people also use the system if they are at risk of falling or have medical histories that make them feel they need extra security. The youngest user was born in 2003, Karnekar said.

At home, users can call for help through a base unit or a wristband. Their home address is registered with the system. After an alert, the control centre may contact relatives to check on the person or send an ambulance, depending on the situation.

A mobile version is available as a watch and works throughout Austria, allowing users to continue activities such as walking in the woods or hiking, Karnekar said.

About 100 alerts are received through the system in Vorarlberg each day. Up to three quarters turn out to be false alarms, Karnekar said, as users can accidentally press the button during daily activities or while sleeping.