Extremely Paranoid single mommy question…

odusgolp

I just moved into a third floor apartment with my 5 year old. We do not have a land line, and depending on the answers here, may or may not get one (I’d prefer not to have one).

The other day, I locked myself out of the building with my dog for hours. Luckily, my son was not home. But this got me thinking… What if I lose consciousness (I have a health problem and randomly do at times), lock myself out, or have a damn heart attack or slip in the tub and crack my head (told you – paranoid).

Is there any sort of button more geared to a simple 911 call that can be installed that he can push in case of an emergency? He knows how to call 911, but I only have a cell phone. I know there are amped up programs like ADT, but I don’t want a full-fledged security system, nor do I really want a land line to be honest.

Just curious if someone knows of a simple solution. Everything I’ve found is less “simple” than I’d like. All I want is a "I've fallen and I can't get up" button...

MB_Positif

That is not a paranoid question. I feel the same way when I am home with my son and my husband is out. We do have a land line but would probably dump it if we weren't getting a good price for the bundle through Verizon cable. That said, you can call 911 from a Cell phone. Most plans allow you to add a line for $10 per month, you could do that with an additional cell phone that just always stays in the same place, like on the kitchen counter.

kim_mc

We keep our landline. I'm not going to buy my kids their own cell phone until they're older so I feel that if his dad calls or the school or there is an emergency, we should have a landline. I guess these people could call my cell phone, I just like that if his dad calls, he can call the house to talk to my son. And when my son is old enough to stay home alone he will have a phone available to him without me having to give him a cell phone.
I'm thinking though that pretty soon we will see kindergarten kids running around with phones. Guess I'm just getting old

Qarol

I do know some states require phone jacks for land lines to have a dial tone, allowing you to call 911, even without setting up your phone number. I'm assuming your apartment is equipped with a land line phone jack. You could call your local phone company and ask if this is the case. Then, all you'd need is a land line phone hooked up to the jack. The only number you could dial would be 911.

I googled for more info and found this list. I checked the list, and even though they're not sure they have the right states, it doesn't look like yours is on it. Still, a call to your phone company might help.

http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2009/05/update-about-911-and-disconnected-landlines.html

AudgePaudge

Check out the Life Alert. lifealert.com

Shanna_Inc86

I don't think you're paranoid...I thought the same things when it was just me & my daughter.

I don't think a prepaid phone kept in the house for just that type of emergency would be a bad idea. I know I'll be buying my daughter her own cell phone in a couple years (start with just a very cheap basic one)

MochaBlues

Perhaps, the most economical choice may be just to get a prepaid phone in anticipation for such emergencies. EVEN if your minutes are used up, you'll always be able to call "911".

jr1985

What about getting an emergency only trak or go phone for your son? you can buy phones for like $20. I've never had one... but I think that the minutes are good for like a year, and not horribly expensive with AT & T

ProudDaddy

try plugging in a phone and see if 911 works..it should work for emergencys

tigersword

Any cell phone, even an inactive phone, can dial 911 (I believe it's a federal requirement.) So, buy a cheap cell phone to keep in the house. You don't have to activate it, or have minutes for it.

Munque

My kids get cell phones when they turn 12, before my oldest turned 12, we always had a land line, for just in cases. Now, me and my husband both have a cell, my oldest daughter and my oldest son have a cell. But I think that a seperate simple emergency cell phone wouldn't be such a bad idea, and program only our numbers and emergency numbers.

I'm glad you're paranoid, you've given me something to think about.

odusgolp

Wow, I seriously never thought about an extra cell for that - but very good point! I will also borrow someone's phone (I don't own a standard phone) and see if I can get a dial tone - another fantastic idea!!

Checking out the links posted as well. Thanks y'all

catwrangler

Get a friend or relative to check up on you daily. Your Mom? They usually love to do stuff like that

vaderandbill

They make cell phones for kids that can only call a few numbers that you program in (they don't even had key pads). I haven't looked into them in a while but I know major carries all had them.

Panda86

Check out the Life Alert. lifealert.com

If you are seriously that worried, I would suggest this, too. It's marketed to older people so they can simply press a button for help if they should fall and get injured, etc. But you could get it and teach the kids to use I would think...

atiffany1

verizon has simple phones for kids that basically have two buttons, one for their parents and one for emergency. again its 10 bucks a month.

empc

There iare medical alert lines. You carry it with you at all times; push the button if you fall etc. You can teach your son to do it. It dials 911 automatically.

_VoV

A land line gives the 911 operator an address, I think. Do cell phones do the same thing? I'm thinking your 5 year-old would need to give a location if using a cell phone, but the land line would do that for him. Am I right about that?

MamaBear57

Do you have wi fi or a hardline? I suppose it does not matter anymore. MagicJack has a cheap phone service that would provide you a landland but not a bill (once a yr billing) It can plug into your computer or the wall now. Just a thought. I feel the same way.

CMmrsfloyd

Absolute cheapest thing to do would be plug in a phone into your landline phone jack or get a used cell phone. Landline phones should be able to dial 911 even without you having paid for service. And cell phones should also be able to dial 911 even if you do not have a cell phone plan. Battered women's shelters actually sometimes take donations of old used cell phones b/c they can hand them out to the women so they can call 911 if needed, even though there are no minutes on the phone.

juliecat1

I am relieved to know I'm not the only one that worries about this! I think about car accidents too where I'm injured and can't call police. Ugh! Okay!
Make sure you teach him your names and addresses too. Because with cell phones they can only approximate your location. If you live in a complex, that's a lot of time door knocking before they can find you.

loombeav

My suggestion would be get a land line, if your state doesn't mandate that you must be able to call 911. Remember with cell phones emergency workers are not always able to locate you based on your cell phone. Even phones that are GPS enabled you must ahve the feature turned on, and most affordable prepay phones are not equipped with this option. Your son would have to be able to give them your physical address and possibly directions, with a land line they have that information.
Some states now have a program where you can register your cell phone so they are able to track your address, but not all states do this.

fit4mom

Get a 2nd cell phone that you can buy the minutes for and put it somewhere for emergencies. Teach him that it's only for emergencies and that it's the 911 phone. Then he'll have a phone he can use if there is an accident. Oh and you can program numbers in it of emergency contact people; I.E. Grandma a friend or the like.

c0rinth517

I think there is something called Magic Jack.....you can get it from Radio Shack I think...It's like 20 bucks a year and is hooked up to your modem...

wiffe

Get a landline. That way they can locate where you are at. Get the very basic plan.

EricNCSU

Check out the Life Alert. lifealert.com

I was going to say this as well... even if you are wearing it around your neck, you can teach him to punch the button. (assuming you are in the house with him when something happens rather than him home alone and you out)...

If you do have problems with passing out then it may be a good thing for you and not just the typical "I've fallen and I can't get up" scenario.

moniquelessard

I agree with the basic landline (no caller display, no voicemail etc..)... it's quite cheap if you don't use it for long distance.

Lifealert is also an option, but it's a button you have to wear around your neck whenever you are at home. Which is a pain in the butt if you ask me (great for seniors tho).. It can also detect if you fall down without you having to press the button.

ChrisStoney

Sounds like a good reason to meet your neighbors! I have 4 apartment buildings and only one tenant has a land line, one of my buildings had no phone jacks, I thought it might be a problem, but 8 years later, no one has noticed. I live in a 3 family, and I worked so much when the kids were that age it was almost like my wife was a single mother.... We hardly ever lock our door...

I would have a few extra keys, have one hidden outside, give one to a friend.

Another suggestion a roomate.....

Medical problem- make sure you tak your medicine, lab tests, go to your appiontments... do the best you can do... we taught our kids how to go to the nieghbors for help.

sjmgde

Perhaps, the most economical choice may be just to get a prepaid phone in anticipation for such emergencies. EVEN if your minutes are used up, you'll always be able to call "911".

This is a perfect idea

laneybird

I work at 9-1-1 and probably 80% of our calls are from cell phones... and probably 50% of those are pocket dials. Most phones have "emergency mode" when a number is held down (usually I think it's 9, but you should be able to make it whatever you want)... plus you can simply call 9-1-1 with it too. I'm not sure where you live but most places are Wireless Phase II which means your location can be plotted... just keep an open line because the longer you are on the line the closer we can pin point your location. I'm a single mom of a 3 year old, so I understand feeling paranoid.

Also, if your cell phone were disconnected for whatever reason... you can still dial 9-1-1. We just cannot call you back.

ffmedic17

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