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Fall Detection for the Active Guardian

The Active Guardian Fall Detection pendant was designed for people who are at risk of falling, have fallen before, or suffer from a medical condition that could result in being unconscious.

How Does It Work?

If you should fall, the pendant must lay still on the ground for 20-30 seconds in order for the event to be considered a fall.

When a fall is detected, the button will beep and flash yellow. The base station will also make an audible voice announcement that a fall has been detected.

In the event of a false alarm, please advise the operator accordingly and confirm you do not require emergency assistance.

How Much Does It Cost?​

Fall Detection costs an additional $10 per month. It does NOT come standard. If you would like to enable Fall Detection for your device, please use the Live Chat feature located in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

How Do I Turn the Feature On/Off?

Fall Detection is enabled/disabled by our Customer Care Team. They can be reached through the Live Chat feature located in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

How Do I Test the Fall Detection?

There are two tests that you should conduct with the Fall Detection Pendant: the standard button press test and the drop test.

Standard Button Press Test

We need to ensure that the standard button press test works prior to conducting the drop test. Simply give your button a firm press and release. You should see a light illuminate briefly on the pendant and you will hear you base station announce: “Call in Progress.” It will repeat this phrase until the operator connects through to the base station. Simply let them know that you are testing your device and are not experiencing a medical emergency.

If you’re unable to successfully test the Fall Detection button, please check out our Active Guardian Troubleshooting FAQ.

Drop Test

There are two ways to complete the drop test for the Fall Detection pendant.

Option 1: While Standing

  1. While standing, hold the button above your head and let it drop to the ground. Please do NOT pick it up and leave it on the ground until testing is complete.
  2. You should hear the button itself beeping within 20-30 seconds. You will then hear “Fall Detected. Please and hold to cancel.” Please do not press anything. It will repeat this 3 times and then the voice prompt will say “Fall Detected. Connecting you an operator.”
  3. Once the operator gets on the line, please let them know that you are testing your device and do not need medical emergency assistance.

Option 2: While Sitting

  1. If you’re unable to stand up, you can sit down in a chair and hold the pendant above your head as high as possible. Then, drop it on a table or floor. Please do NOT pick it up and leave it on the ground until testing is complete.
  2. You should hear the button itself beeping within 20-30 seconds. You will then hear “Fall Detected. Please and hold to cancel.” Do not press anything. It will repeat this 3 times and then the voice prompt will say “Fall Detected. Connecting you an operator.” 
  3. Once the operator gets on the line, please let them know that you are testing your device and do not need medical emergency assistance. 

Important Points about Fall Detection

  • Fall Detection does not detect 100% of falls.
  • If you are able, please ensure that you press the help button in the event of an emergency.
  • The Fall Detection pendant MUST be worn around the neck to allow for adequate detection of falls.
  • You may experience false alarms from time to time. If you experience false alarms, make sure you let the operator know that you do not need emergency assistance. 
  • As a reminder, if the operator cannot hear you through the base station they will call your primary phone number listed on the account to confirm if you need emergency assistance. It is important that you let them know that you do NOT need emergency assistance when the operator calls through the base station or calls your primary phone number. If they do not get a response, they will dispatch EMS to your home. That is why it is imperative that you speak to the operator in order to cancel the alarm to avoid unnecessary dispatches.