Is Technology in Modern Gadgets Really Saving Lives?

Picture a scene where someone falls in their bath, they need to get help right away! If they cannot get to the house phone and yelling at the top of their lungs does not work what else can they do? Sending smoke signals has always been a difficult and time consuming procedure, and the EPA probably has a ban on it without a permit, so what can you do? Typically our cell phones are never more than a feet away, and It is obvious that these particular devices have been most helpful in saving lives since they were first introduced.

There are some who simply push the little button on their "Help I have fallen and can not get up" alert device to call for help. These are simple yet specialized intercom systems attached to a central monitoring station via your home phone line. Pushing the button connects you instantly to an operator who can get help. Face it ever since Alexander graham bell made his first collect call, probably for a tow truck, people have used the telephone as a safety device. The phone is probably involved in more lifesaving missions each year than many of us have even had hot lunches.

So what other technology devices have helped save lives? Some would argue that the emergency alerts which go out over radio and television has been a huge help when it comes to getting people out of harms way during an emergency, though people generally seem to be desensitized by excessive input we receive, so the red scrolling bar across the television screen just looks like any other pop up banner ad and we tend to ignore it.

What I think could be the "next big safety thing" would be to have the emergency alert system connected to our computers via our Internet providers, so that they could flash across our screens when a tornado is headed our way. Just a thought, but when they start doing this you can say you heard it here first.

Microchips and tiny embedded computers have invaded our lives completely, up to and including being embedded under our skin. Things like RFID or "radio frequency identification" devices allow us to track goods and other tangible things, and now we can even use them to track people. Having a chip embedded in your body should be helpful in keeping you safe in the event someone kidnaps you. Other than that it is probably another way that big brother might keep tabs on us.

Implantable medical devices now run the gamut from heart defibrillator's, pacemakers, morphine injection pumps, and shock therapy modules for back troubles. Simpler and more reliable catheter devices for people with kidney troubles have helped us save peoples lives. Although many of these medical devices are not for treating life threatening disease like the heart devices do, the rapid growth of this industry is a marker that cannot be ignored. One can only imagine what these gadgets will be capable of in five or ten years.

If you have ever had a medical procedure where they used MRI, had a CAT scan, or even had a routine colon check, then you probably know the value of medical equipment like this when it comes to early detection and saving lives. There is probably no better example in the world where tech gadgets like these have helped.

Technology in your car has been making travel safer each year. We have anti lock brakes, traction control, vision devices, and satellite monitoring systems like "On-Star", and advanced security systems with remote start and key less entry. Granted the remote start does not generally save lives but it could help.

Home monitoring devices have come a long way in the fight to save lives. Imagine how many tragedies have been avoided due to installing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detection devices. Not too many years ago a house fire could take an entire family and now with improved and lower cost detectors more lives are being saved.

Many local safety departments offer free smoke detectors through their safety offices such as the police and fire departments. If you need these and can not afford them, please call your local fire department and ask about it. Typically seniors and low income families will receive one free, and some departments will come and install them for free as well.

In summary, to me there are really only four important "categories" of life saving devices that have made a huge difference in our modern world.

Phone, Radio, Television
Improved Medical Devices
Home Safety Equipment
Automotive Safety Gadgets

Thank you for reading my articles here on Associated Content - Yahoo!

Sources:
lifealert.com/
www.onstar.com/