An alarm is useful only if it can be reached, heard and answered
Compare loud personal alarms, phone SOS, wearable buttons and monitored pendants by activation, coverage and response—not marketing claims.
| Type | Purpose | Failure checks |
|---|---|---|
| Loud pull-pin alarm | Attract attention and create an opportunity to move to safety | Can it be reached, reset and heard in the actual environment? |
| Phone emergency SOS | Contact emergency services or trusted contacts using platform features | Battery, lock-screen operation, country/carrier availability and accidental activation |
| Bluetooth wearable | Trigger a connected phone app discreetly | Phone distance, app permissions, background operation and Bluetooth |
| Cellular/GPS pendant | Independent calls or monitored alerts with location | Subscription, indoor coverage, charging, roaming and monitoring procedure |
Test before relying on it
- Practise activation without making a false emergency call.
- Test from the bathroom, garden, stairs, car and regular walking routes.
- Confirm who receives the alert and what information they see.
- Create an escalation order when the first contact does not answer.
- Check battery and network-loss warnings.
- Review location-sharing privacy and remove former contacts.
- Repeat the test after phone, app, router or mobile-provider changes.
No consumer SOS feature guarantees a response. Availability, location accuracy and emergency integration vary by device, country, carrier and service.
Official references: Apple Emergency SOS guidance, Android emergency guidance and police personal-safety advice.
Last checked: 1 September 2026.