What is Lifeline

Lifeline is a personal emergency response system, a means of summoning emergency help when an individual is unable to dial the telephone. It is a community service program of the Cumberland Medical Center (CMC) Volunteer Services Department.

How does Lifeline work?

A Lifeline subscriber (the person who has a Lifeline unit in their home) wears their small lightweight personal help button (PHB). Whenever a subscriber needs emergency help, they press this small button. Pressing the PHB activates the home unit that automatically dials the Lifeline emergency response center. Lifeline units are so sophisticated that they work even if the telephone is off the hook or in the event of an electrical failure.

Also, each Lifeline subscriber has an information card on file at Lifeline that lists medications taken, directions to the subscriber's home, physical handicaps, allergies, etc. This information is vital if a subscriber should ever need emergency medical treatment.

When a subscriber pushes the PHB, the home unit signals the Lifeline emergency response center , which is monitored 24 hours a day. Upon receiving a help-needed signal, Lifeline will first try to call the subscriber, in case the PHB was pushed accidentally.

If the subscriber does not answer, Lifeline will call a responder. (A responder is someone, usually a family member, friend, or neighbor, whom a subscriber has chosen to be called in an emergency.

Link to detailed Lifeline information

Please follow this link to access detailed information on the CMC Auxiliary Lifeline medical alarm service (www.lifelinesys.com/affiliate/cmc)