Hillside Lifeline

How does the system work?
The subscriber wears a small electronic push button on a chain around the neck or attached to a wrist strap. If you happen to fall, have a heart attack or stroke, become seriously ill, are robbed or attacked, or experience any other emergency, you simply push the response button. The call for help activates a communication unit that is attached to the subscriber's home phone. The phone system immediately dials the Beaver Dam Community Hospital Response Center. This call will always be connected, even though the phone might be off the hook or you are experiencing a power failure.

At the hospital's response center, trained staff receive the signal and phone what help is needed. If they can not contact the subscriber, they will then call a friend, relative, or neighbor who has been designated by the subscriber as a responder.

The responder quickly goes to the subscriber's home and checks on the situation. The hospital staff will call the responder to see what kind of assistance is needed. If the subscriber needs medical assistance, the responder may proceed to the hospital or request an ambulance.

An important feature of the communication system is that it will call the hospital for help even though the subscriber may be unable to use the push button. The equipment is designed to include a timer that the subscriber resets each time he or she uses the telephone. If the subscriber is unable to reset the timer, the Lifeline system automatically goes to work and calls the hospital to start the response procedure.