HELP...I'VE....

       

Sometimes I think I must have been nuts when I committed to posting something on my blog every single day of 2020. Of course when I said that, there was no pandemic in view and I figured I’d be out and about and having fun and sharing that with y’all. But I do deserve a gold star for continuing with the effort even though the majority of what I post probably isn’t all that interesting.

Then, there’s writing a post and losing it which is what I did earlier this week. I had written a post for Thursday and a draft for Friday, but somehow, I guess I wrote over Thursday’s post with the one intended for Friday. Is that making any kind of sense?

So, I’ll see if I can recall what I said about the gentleman from AARP who came to visit me on Monday. A month or so I received a postcard asking if I’d like a free Carbon Monoxide Detector. So, I filled it out and sent it back. This very nice gentleman was delivering the detector, but was also there to talk to me about safety in the home since I’m older and live alone.

Did you know that there’s a difference between a smoke detector and a fire alarm. I didn’t. One senses negative ions and the other positive ones. The smoke detector is photo electric and has little viewpoints around it, so it sees the smoke when it arrives at the detector and goes off. A fire alarm uses ionization and goes off when it senses the larger particles that haven’t yet made smoke. For instance, your toaster catches fire. The fire alarm goes off, you grab the toaster and haul it outside or use your fire extinguisher and get out of the house. He suggested I go online and watch “WTHR Aquarium Test” which I did, but I’m not sure it helped me understand any better. And, forgive me if I got this wrong.

He checked my smoke detectors which is when I realized I actually have two. He told me the oldest one is the bestest one and the new one would wear out before the old one. Hang on to that old one he said. Since I don’t have a fire alarm, I’m going to need to order and install one.

He also explained that getting down on the floor and crawling out of your burning building is not a good idea. There are so many toxic products now that the chemicals from those can kill you before you get out. You should hunch over and be at doorknob level which is about 36 inches. You may get some smoke, but you’ll be able to keep moving more safely.

Finally, he asked me if I had one of those, “Help, I’ve fallen and can’t get up.” personal protectors. I told him I did not. He showed me the one on his wrist and said he takes his own advice and pays $39+ a month for it. He strongly advised I invest in one.

On Tuesday, I went to lunch with AJ and asked him if he thought investing in one of these things would be a good idea. He said he thought so because lots of times they call or text me and I don’t answer or respond for some time. It’s worrisome. I had no idea they worried when I didn’t get right back. Lots of times I garden and leave my phone in the house or go in the house and leave my phone outside.

After lunch, even though I don’t feel old enough to require such a gadget, I went online and connected with Medical Guardian. You don’t have to have one that hangs around your neck…I’d hate that. You can get a wrist unit that has GPS and if you push the button anywhere in the United States, someone will get right back to you…usually within 15 seconds, but no more than 60 seconds. The “guardian” will find out from you your problem and needs and stay with you until the situation is resolved. If you are non-responsive, they will call 911 and send them to you.

So, I ordered a unit. I noticed on the email confirmation that they were sending white when I’d requested black. I called and was told there would be one of each color. Now, the cost is really $39.95 a month and the equipment is free. If I paid the fee annually (which I did), it was $516.34. That includes free shipping, free activation once it arrives, insurance if it becomes defective or broken, a lockbox with a pin that can be provided to the rescue folks so they don't have to knock down your door, and one free month of service.

When I call to activate, I can provide up to four contacts and depending on my problem, the “guardian” will contact them, or at least the first name on the list. I’ll be wearing it on my left wrist I think because my fitbit is on my right. Fitbit and Medical Guardian should link up so I could have all the information on one wrist.

Anyway, my personal gadget should arrive next week and I’ll call and activate it. I’m doing this not because I feel old and feeble but because my slow response to their calls and texts worries my children. I think it’s very important for me to do this so their lives are less worrisome…don’t you agree?