The Importance of Personal Alarms During Winter Months

A personal alarm is a great asset for any older person at any time of the year, whether they live alone or not. It’s a last line of protection against a worst-case scenario – having an emergency and being unable to call for help.

But it’s also true that personal alarms for the elderly are especially important in winter. Why? Read on to learn some reasons – including some you might be able to guess and others that could be a surprise.

What is a personal alarm?

First, let’s define what we mean when we talk about elderly personal alarms.

These are small devices that can be worn on the wrist or as a pendant. Since they’re worn on the body, they’re always at hand – even when an older person has fallen or is having a medical crisis that means they can’t walk to get a phone.

The personal alarm’s core function is to call for help in an emergency. So, when we say that personal alarms are especially important during winter months, we mean that. in winter, seniors are more likely to experience a health emergency where they’d need to call for help using an alarm.

Now let’s run down some things about winter that make it more dangerous.

1. Seniors might be alone more often in the winter

When the weather’s warm and pleasant, people are more likely to be out and about, visiting one another and socialising. Neighbours might also be outdoors at home, working on their gardens or hanging up laundry.

In the wintertime, things change. During a cold snap, people – especially older ones – may only venture out for necessities. No-one wants to stand outside chatting, and it’s less likely for anyone to be gardening or spending time outdoors.

Because of this, a fall can be extra risky for an older person during the wintertime. In the summer, a neighbour digging up a flowerbed next door might notice or hear an elderly person who has fallen in their own garden. In icy weather, that might not be the case.

Similarly, some social events close down for the winter season. There might simply be a greater chance that an older person is around other people in summer.

The end result is that wintertime requires an extra layer of protection. If fewer people are around, and an older person is less frequently near others, they need another way to call for help.

2. Cold weather increases risks of breathing problems, heart attacks and strokes

Cold weather has several harmful effects on an older person’s body.

One of the most important ones is that it tightens the windpipe, restricting breathing. This is a particular problem for elderly people who already have COPD or other difficulties with breathing.

Cold environments also cause people’s blood pressure to go up. But many older people already have high blood pressure, so the additional increase from the cold weather can push their blood pressure into very dangerous territory.

Because of these factors, seniors are more at risk of serious breathing issues, heart attacks and strokes.

What do all these medical emergencies have in common? They happen unexpectedly – possibly too quickly for a person to get to a phone – and they need urgent treatment.

With a personal alarm at hand, an older person will be able to call for help to get that treatment in moments.

3. The risk of slipping and falling is often greater in winter

It goes without saying that in snowy and icy weather, there’s a higher risk of slipping and falling. Elderly people, who may have diminished strength and balance, are often more at risk.

But the factors involved in slipping and falling go beyond ice and snow.

Due to ageing, seniors often have weaker night vision – even if their vision is otherwise good. But poorer vision can also lead to falls. In winter, when the sun sets by 4pm, older people are more likely to encounter poor lighting – and consequently more likely to fall.

Furthermore, some elderly people also report that their joint pain and stiffness are worse during cold spells. For seniors who do experience this, their risk of falling could also be increased.

4. The consequences of a fall can be worse

We’ve highlighted why older people might be more likely to have a medical emergency or fall, and are more likely to be alone when this happens.

But we should also remember that the consequences of a fall could also be worse in winter.

To start off with, let’s consider that there are two types of harm from falls. There’s the harm that comes in the moment of falling – such as fracturing a hip. But there’s also harm that comes after a fall.

If a senior is unable to get help after they fall, the second type of harm comes into play. As they lie on the floor or ground for an extended period of time, they may become dehydrated. They can experience pressure sores, especially if they can’t get up to go to the bathroom. And they could be so distressed by this event that they become fearful about falling in future – leading to a vicious cycle where they walk less, become weaker, and then feel even less confident about walking.

Moreover, an older person can easily begin to experience hypothermia if they’re lying on a floor for a long time and are unable to reach a blanket. That’s the case during any season, but of course, the danger of hypothermia is more extreme in winter. If an older person falls outside and can’t get up, hypothermia could set in very quickly.

How personal alarms protect older people in the winter

There’s a name for the situation when an older person has to lie on the floor for an hour or more after a fall. It’s called a ‘long lie,’ and, as you can see, it’s truly dangerous to seniors.

Ideally, we would be able to prevent all falls and emergencies before they happen. But since we can’t, we have personal alarms to protect against that worst-case scenario of the long lie.

That’s why SureSafe is proud to be a leading provider of personal alarms in the UK. We’re always thinking about how best to protect older people from a long lie or from the other dangers of not getting help fast in an emergency.

So, if you’re worried about falls or emergencies in winter for yourself or an elderly loved one, just get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to discuss how our alarms operate and which one might be right for you. All you need to do is call us at 0808 189 1671, use our live chat, or request a call back.