emergency call system
a portable device that summons immediate assistance for an individual who, due to illness or an impairment, may not be able to reach a telephone in an emergency. The device, which may be worn (e.g., on the wrist, around the neck) or carried, is generally a noisemaker, a one-way alerting device (e.g., an alarm), or an intercom that may be used to contact a neighbor, family member, or 24-hour monitoring station staffed by trained personnel. Often used by people in their homes, emergency call systems are also used in hospitals, long-term care institutions, and assisted living facilities.