# We need an in-house alert system **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560 "2009-02-12T17:40:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/1 "2009-02-12T17:40:53Z")
My wife and I are getting on in years, and need to be able to inform the other “Help! I’m in trouble,” wherever either of us might be in the house. We have a small 7-room ranch with a cellar and attached garage. We are reluctant to buy a service like - “I’ve fallen down and can’t get up!” We did try long handled bells, like the ones a school marm might have on her desk, but these won;t do. Wife went to bedroom at the other end of the house, shut the door, and while I was at the other end with the TV on, she rang the bell. Didn’t hear it. Any suggestions? An electronic system isn’t out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/2 "2009-02-12T17:46:50Z")
Buy a bunch of [FRS](http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032071&cp=2032052) radios and sprinkle them around the house, or carry them with you. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/3 "2009-02-12T17:49:08Z")
How about taking a resolution always to carry your cellphones? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/4 "2009-02-12T17:50:51Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > How about taking a resolution always to carry your cellphones? We have just one, and I kind of think beowulff’s on track. But thenk you, xema. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/5 "2009-02-12T19:46:54Z")
Another vote for a cell phone. The second one can be a cheap pay-as-you-go Tracfone. It’d be cheaper than radios, if you only used it in a real emergency. When my husband was sick, we had a bicycle horn by his bed, and I could hear that all over the house (and it was a big house). It wouldn’t work if I was outside though. I haven’t heard of anything else that you could carry on your person except for the “can’t get up” service. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/6 "2009-02-12T20:00:31Z")
I have one of those telephones sets that comes with a “wired” base and then you can add on up to 6 handsets (cordless phones). There’s a button on the base phone and the handset(s) that says “page” and when you press it the base phone makes a godawful beeping alarm noise that you can clearly hear from anywhere in the house. What if you just got one of these types of phone setups, and made a point to each carry a handset with you? That way it also serves as, well, a phone in case you are home alone. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/7 "2009-02-12T20:15:38Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I have one of those telephones sets that comes with a “wired” base and then you can add on up to 6 handsets (cordless phones). > > There’s a button on the base phone and the handset(s) that says “page” and when you press it the base phone makes a godawful beeping alarm noise that you can clearly hear from anywhere in the house. > > What if you just got one of these types of phone setups, and made a point to each carry a handset with you? That way it also serves as, well, a phone in case you are home alone. Sounds good! Thanks, \*\*Zipper. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/8 "2009-02-12T23:57:29Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I have one of those telephones sets that comes with a “wired” base and then you can add on up to 6 handsets (cordless phones). This was going to be my first suggestions. Second suggestion is a wireless doorbell system. Something like [this.](http://www.gadgetshack.com/plug-in-doorbell-doorchime.html) You can get a second button for it. Plug the chimes into someplace central in the house, and set it for a tune you agree on. You can also get extra receiver/chimes, so you could have them in several locations around the house. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-an-in-house-alert-system/485560/9 "2009-02-13T01:18:56Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > This was going to be my first suggestions. > > Second suggestion is a wireless doorbell system. > Something like [this.](http://www.gadgetshack.com/plug-in-doorbell-doorchime.html) You can get a second button for it. Plug the chimes into someplace central in the house, and set it for a tune you agree on. You can also get extra receiver/chimes, so you could have them in several locations around the house. Thank you, **Tastes of Chocolate**. I bookmarked the link and will give it some thought.