All medical alert systems are designed to save lives. Whether they are based on GPS trackers, check-in calls, or panic buttons, their goal is to offer the most effective way to access emergency assistance on demand. Naturally, each service has different features and benefits and is tailored according to their ideal audience.
Chronically-ill, elderly, or hearing-impaired individuals are often recommended Rescu or Bay Alarm Medical. They are both rated high in offering emergency medical assistance, however, the range of services and prices offered are remarkably different. To help you make the right decision we’ve laid out the features and benefits of both.
A Look at Bay Alarm Medical
California-based Bay Alarm Medical offers a wide range of location-based emergency services for their clients. This includes in-home monitoring, car trackers, and mobile-enabled GPS services that connect directly to your smartphone.
Features
Most of their services rely on a wearable panic button, which is attached to a medical alert bracelet. The concept is simple: just push the button whenever you need help, and you’ll be connected to their dedicated 24/7 call center so that they can contact your family, friends, or 911, if necessary. Their portable trackers are also equipped with sensors that will automatically detect possible falls or accidents. So, even if you are momentarily unconscious, their agents will be notified.
Naturally, such thorough tracking services carry a big overhead cost. In order to ensure each client only pays for what they will use, they have designed several different plans that address different environments (home, car, or anywhere you go). Need more than one area covered? You can also bundle the different types of coverage together at a discounted rate.
Benefits
Some of the main benefits offered by Bay Alarm Medical include:
- 24/7 specialized call centers, staffed by trained responders
- Wearable devices have embedded 4G LTE connectivity
- Automatic notifications to pre-designated family members
- Services that are available for both native English speakers and English-as-a- second-language clients
A Look at Rescu
Rescu is a smartphone-based medical alert system that relies on quick, non-verbal communication in order to send help your way. The mechanics are simple: the special Rescu app allows you to contact an ambulance, law enforcement or the fire department quickly with just two taps of your fingers. This signal comes as a verified request for aid to your local emergency services, who will be dispatched immediately.
Features
The main feature of Rescu is that it allows you to contact your existing first-responder network immediately and directly, bypassing 911 and without the need to utter a single word. The importance of this cannot be overstated for customers who are unable to speak, hearing-impaired, or whose native language is not English.
As Rescu counts as a “verified distress call” for your local emergency services, it offers one of the most rapid response rates on the market and places your request at the top of the queue. Even if you’re not at home, Rescu can dispatch to your address. For example; if you have a home surveillance system that alerts you of an intruder, you can use your app to send emergency services.
Additionally, you can add contacts to the app who will be immediately notified of any emergency situation. You simply need to provide the company with your home address and numbers of your emergency contacts during the initial set up.
Finally, by relying on your existing smartphone and cellular connection there is no need to purchase additional equipment, therefore the subscription fees for Rescu are much lower than the industry average.
Benefits
Rescu’s main benefits are:
- Immediate assistance bypassing 911 and other third-parties
- Low-cost plans and no additional equipment
- The ability to send an automated message to predetermined friends and family
- The ability to get relevant, yet silent aid depending on the type of emergency (police, fire services, or ambulance)
How They Stack Up
Both Bay Alert Medical and Rescu offer efficient aid to those who find themselves in an emergency situation. However, each service has a slightly different ideal customer in mind, so you will need to assess your needs carefully before making a decision.
Bay Alert Medical provides extra advantages for senior citizens who are still mobile. Thanks to their independent GPS devices, you can get aid sent to wherever you are. Starting at $19.95 per month ($240 per year), Bay Alert Medical offers multiple packages ranging from the standard in-home medical alert to full coverage options that bundle in-home coverage with in-car coverage for $69.95 per month ($840 per year).
On the other hand, Rescu is ideal for anyone who might struggle with verbal communication, even momentarily. It relies on non-verbal verified signals and does not require you to waste extra time explaining your situation to an agent. Rescu also offers the ability to send emergency aid remotely – for example, calling for a police patrol even when you are not at home.
There are two subscription models available for Rescu, the first is free and offers an ambulance dispatch service and one dispatch address. The second, Rescu Prime, is $60 per year and includes ambulance, fire and police dispatch services, and allows up to four dispatch addresses.
Picking the Right Service for YOU
Rescu is one of the top-ranked medical alert systems on the market today. Emergency preparedness can not be underrated, and the value Rescu offers yields comprehensive protection with minimal overhead costs. Learn more about Rescu today.
