Top Features to Look for in a Personal Safety Alarm in 2025 Australia
Personal alarms are often advertised as protecting the elderly and infirm but are suitable for all ages and those who work alone. These alarms are portable devices that are wearable and alert others in particular situations.
A personal alarm can be used to summon help in emergencies, warn of unusual behaviour and ensure the user is safe. To fulfil these functions, the device must be practical and should have specific functionality that varies depending on an individual user’s situation.
Choosing the Best Personal Alarm for the Elderly Australia
Personal alarms are available in two types:
- A pendant that hangs around the user’s neck with a large SOS button to press in an emergency. Advanced models have a screen with information such as remaining battery life, mobile signal strength and caller identity, although these features add weight and reduce battery life.
- A smart watch with a smaller SOS button on the side, a touchscreen interface, more detailed information, downloadable apps and a customisable watch face. The smaller SOS button and more complex operation can be harder to use, especially for those with limited dexterity.
Whichever type of personal alarm you prefer, the best personal alarm for elderly people may depend on certain features:
- Battery and charging. You want the alarm to work for a few days before the battery goes flat and then be easy to charge. Plugging in a cable may be difficult for users with limited dexterity so a magnetic connector or charging cradle will be easier.
- GPS location. This feature enables wearer movements to be tracked, with alerts sent to a contact at required intervals.
- Geo fencing is a useful feature for someone who has a tendency to wander. It enables a virtual ‘fence’ to be created so an alert is sent if the wearer goes outside the specified area. Some devices let you create an area as a polygon or circle, the former being more flexible since it allows an irregular map to be set up.
- Ping frequency. For GPS monitoring, you should be able to specify alerts are sent to contacts frequently, occasionally or when the wearer moves outside a geo-fenced boundary. The more frequent the setting, the more wear on the battery.
- Fall detection. If the device drops quickly, an alert is sent, which is useful for those at risk of falling
- Non-movement. A contact is alerted if the user doesn’t move for a specified time.
- Number of contacts. You need an alarm that records as many contacts as required so you’re not restricted. In the event of an incident, the alarm will go through the contact list until there’s a response.
- Speed alert. A contact is alerted if the device starts to move rapidly, such as when the wearer gets on a bus or into a car.
- Resistance to water and dust. Some products have meaningless descriptions such as ‘shower proof’. To be sure how resistant the device is, you need to assess the ingress protection rating (IPA). Ideally, you want a rating of IP67, which provides complete protection against dust and for submersion in water at one metre for up to thirty minutes.
- Supplier certification. Connection to mobile networks requires compliance with Australian Communications and Media Authority requirements, which means suppliers must be registered in the National Equipment Registration System database.
Ensuring Complete Protection
The best alarm to buy will depend on individual circumstances. These will include the age and behaviour of the user and their dexterity.
Choose a device with sufficient battery life, that’s easy to charge and has all the required features. That way, the user will be fully protected in all situations.
