Fountain Valley Hospital Offers Emergency Response System

An in-home communication system intended to ensure prompt, efficient response in a medical, police or fire emergency situation is now available for Orange County residents through the Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. The Emergency Response System is equipped with a microphone and speaker system and allows the user, by pushing a button, to communicate with an operator who will contact the proper authorities, hospital spokeswoman Sue De La Rosa said. The cost of the system is $25 a month and $50 for installation, she said.

The system “is designed for people who are medically at risk and for the elderly who live at home,” said Paul Spiegelman, vice president of Emergency Response System Inc. Emergency calls are handled by an operator in the emergency response center in Los Angeles, where a computer holds information on the caller’s medical history, nearest police and fire authorities and persons to contact in case of an emergency, Spiegelman said.

The system also has a “daily check-in” button, which the user pushes every 24 hours, he said. When the user does not push the check-in button after 24 hours, operators will contact friends or neighbors to check on the person, Spiegelman said. For additional information, call (714) 966-8174.