Life alert buttons you wear

As posted yeaterday I hit a metal 2 in corner post mowing in thick weeds. The smaller corner brace pipe came up between my legs and pase my body, under my arm. Today I felt a sore spot. Had to go to a mirror to see what going on. Looked in a mirror and saw a bruse about the size of a small grape fruit on my lower belley(Don't usually look at my self in the mirror.)The pipe actually hit me in the lower belley, as it slid past. This got me to thinking How would I get help if something happened while way from anyone on my tractor. Maybe those life alert things you wear are not such a bad idea. But they are for old people I'm only 68. Stan

Those Life Alert buttons are just short-range transmitters that activate a base unit that's plugged into your house phone.

They won't work when you're out in the field. Too far from the base unit, and even if it did activate, you couldn't shout "I've fallen and I can't get up!" loud enough for the operators to hear. Emergency people would go to your house, not the field.

Mom makes Dad carry his cell phone with him any time he goes out. Cell phones are better than nothing, but what if you're hurt so badly that you can't dial the phone? Even if you can call for help, the first responders might not be able to find you in time, especially if your GPS is turned off.

There's no way you could cover all eventualities. I guess that's one of the reasons why farming is such a dangerous occupation...

The signal doesn't travel that far. My Mom had one that was good for about 100 feet. It goes to a dialer on your land-line phone and when called, the answerer calls out your name; if you don't answer or can't respond, that either gets the answerer to call your neighbor or emergency services-your choice. A cell phone is a better choice when you're mobile. They can be set for speed dial or even 911 calls that can be traced with a locator.

Stan...unfortunately, they are phone related and would only work within a limited range. MIL got one a few years ago...then moved to different location and doesn't need it. Contract/company will NOT let her out of the contract...$XX per moth for something she doesn't need or use.

Your basic question is VERY important. I am retired a little over a year now, and my cell phone goes on my belt first thing. Phone stays turned on 24/7 (its on night stand). I also let "somebody" know when I'm gonna be away from the house doing tractor/chainsaw work. "Somebody" includes wife, or a neighbor, or a cousin or two.

Be safe!!

Rick

Just carry a cell phone if you have one, and think about how you would describe where you are. I don't think the phone gps system is very reliable. I do a lot of trail mowing on some property that is 3 miles out in the wood on a dead end road, SE 1/4 sec 16!

I checked on them and found out they are not what they say, I always keep my cell phone with me. Had to have help a couple of times but son was with me. Town marshall heard my son call on his scanner. Met ambulance at city limit and led them through town to the farm and in the driveway right to the door of the house. Sure was nice to know. Minutes can mean a lot some times.
gitrib

That incident you described to us in that last post of yours, is undoubtedly freakish in nature, but commonly exists in places you can't see or may not be familiar with or have no reference point to go from. Most will say that they walk and inspect the work area, many do not, personally I don't stray off the land here, and know where things are, but if working in new places, I would have to see it off season, early spring, late fall, clear/mark/note hazards. Not going to be the cure-all but most likely time well spent.

Things like that pipe are just incredible in how they find an opening and just rise up to impale you. I've cleared quite a bit of brush and trees in the past, lots of it on dozers, but here at home, just my old tractor and mower. Fortunately for me no injuries, but I can't say how many times, I've raised one side up on a stump or log, been smacked by something under tension etc. My old tractor has a loader with lines to catch on things, I won't brag, but with all I did with it, only 1 time did I pull the return line to reservoir off. I can see a few small shallow slices in my tires though, not good at today's prices ! One incident on my D7 caterpillar, is still vivid in my memory though, this is an open station, no rops tractor. I cut with a chainsaw and rough cleared a small area to connect to a field next to my house, down a slope. Next move was to bring the crawler through, don't you know seemingly out of nowhere a limb or log hits me in the side of the head! Tough ole melon up there, however it almost cleared me off the seat not to mention its effects after. To this day I don't know what I missed, but it was something up on the left embankment, could have been a vine that caught because my tracks were clear blade was up and plenty of room. This stuff comes from out of nowhere sometimes with no time to react, and like you said, who is going to find or help you, good to hear you did not get hurt, getting impaled in the abdomen by a blunt steel pipe is something hard to imagine. A neighbor over the hill, was mowing in rough terrain, he got tossed out of the seat of a 640 Ford, went under the rear tire an through the rotary cutter, an ugly scene, was found hours afterward by his brother.

In all, I have learned to respect all work areas regardless!

mom had one that I purchased and set up for her on her phone. It gave her peace of mind, living by her self. One day it went off while I was in a meeting. I stepped out and called my wife and my mom's neighbor.. Turns out she had fallen and broken her leg. so yes.. they help folks who want to stay in thier homes for some time to come. Worthless when you leave the house though. The model I purchased was one that you programed to call 5 numbers with a custom recorded message when activated. It was worth the $60 bucks to my mom for the 5 years that she used it, and trufully gave me some peace of mind as well.
I had it call the neighbor's house first, but that number was busy, so it called my cell phone second, and that was what it took.( would have called my wife next and my brother after that) she had a compound fracture, so getting ems and the neighbor there was important. Finnally got the neighbor there first and she had a key, so she was able to help mom till the ambulance got there.

Life alert button systems - at least the ones I'm familiar with - only work within 200 - 300 ft of the base station receiver unit.

That's fine for an oldster confined to a house or small yard. But if your are gonna be more distant they are worthless.

Further, even if the button was able to raise the base station from farther away, emergency responders will have no idea where to begin looking for you. (The button company operator can provide only the street address/phone number where the receiver unit is plugged in).

Cell phone is a somewhat better solution. But in an emergency you must be alert enough to dial 911 then describe exactly where you can be found. And of course you must have cell coverage in order for your phone to work (not always the case where I sometimes work)

Another solution is a pair of FRS 2-way radios. In an emergency you can push the "CALL" button then speak with the person on the other end. But that person must have their FRS radio with them, turned on, and set to the same channel. Also they must know where you are working.

The advantage of the FRS is depending on the model they communicate as far as 10 miles or more. And FRS radios are inexpensive - a decent pair can be had for under $100.

CELL PHONE
Coverage may be spotty but most areas get coverage.
Carry mine with me all the time.

They have their place, but there are alot of false alarms, In fact, we had one a hr ago. Usualy human error, and the ones who have problems, seem to always continue to have them. Most older folks dislike them because they will never ever have a need for it.

They have made the differance many many times. and can be worth their weight in gold. Often if you fall, your cell phone is imposible to dial.

They are always trying to make cell phones take on new tasks, so the perfect one may be just around the corner.

I have never thought to check out the good or bad ones. A good scare is the best way to decide to accept a system. There are many options and costs offered.

Being dead is one thing, but just getting hurt, and no one is aware? -----no need to explain that one......

I have posted that anyone who uses a bush hog should have a safety cutoff switch that attaches to to your clothing and kills the ignition if the operator gets swept off the seat by a tree branch.Marine supply shops have them for 10 bucks.I usually get the hoss laff for saying that.There must be one for diesel engines as most lobster men use them.