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Heart Attack in Shop?

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Forum topic by GaryK posted 573 days ago 541 views 1 time favorited 21 replies Add to Favorites Watch
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GaryK

9537 posts in 886 days


573 days ago

Topic tags/keywords: safety heart attack panic alarm panic switch

This may be the most important thing you can get for your shop!
.

It may save your life!
.

There is a problem for some of us in the shop. What if you got hurt or even a heart attack and couldn’t
walk out of the shop for help? What would you do? Well, if you were like me with a detached shop out
of shouting range, you would lay there until some looked in on you. It might be too late.

I have a mechanical heart valve so I started thinking what would happen to me. Well, I’m out in the shop for
hours at a time and my wife won’t disturb me out there (Bless her heart). It could be hours before she checked up on me.

So I started looking into a solution to the problem and for $88 I have a solution. I got at panic button
that I always have with me in the shop. If I have a problem I just press the button and an alarm goes off in the house.

Below are the links to the items you can get.

I got the following items.

1. Audio Alarm (a loud alarm and receiver)
2. Keychain Transmitter (to arm and turn off alarm)
3. Panic Button ( the button I carry)

You can also get a botton that you wear on your wrist. I like the keychain type of button because it
is less obtrusive and I can carry it with me always. (I have a little chain attaching it to my belt). It also
has a little sliding cover over the button so you don’t press it accidently.

If your shop is any distance at all away you should also get the wireless repeater to get better range.
Just mount it between the alarm and your shop. I had wires running to my house for an intercom
so I took the speaker out of the alarm and installed it in the house and left the audio alarm (the receiver)
in the shop so I will always be in range. (I wouldn’t recommend anyone else doing that unless you know something about wiring)

All these devices work together and work well.

If the alarm goes off I told my wife to grab the cordless phone and run to the shop. That will allow her
to call 911 if necessary and still stay with me.

I don’t sell or have anything to do with the product or the company that sells it.
.
.


Audio Alarm
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Security/Skylink-Total-Protection/Item/AA-433/


Keychain Transmitter
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Security/Skylink-Total-Protection/Item/4B434/


Wrist Watch Panic Remote
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Security/Skylink-Total-Protection/Item/HW-434/


Panic Remote
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Security/Skylink-Total-Protection/Item/PT-434/


Wireless Repeater
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Security/Skylink-AAA/Item/RP-434/

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Russel's profile

Russel

2063 posts in 836 days


573 days ago

Good advice. I’ve already had two heart attacks … fortunately nothing since I started woodworking, but this is something I will be looking into. A sincere thank you for the advice.

-- Working at Woodworking www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

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trifern

7895 posts in 664 days


573 days ago

Great public saftey tip Gary. What if your wife is not home? Thanks for the tip.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

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GaryK

9537 posts in 886 days


573 days ago

Well, my wife is basically always home with the baby. If she were gone I would be in trouble.

The alternative would be to pay a monthly fee to a company “First Alert” I think the name is. The “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” people.

That is expensive, but if it’s worth your piece of mind then use them.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3791 posts in 1212 days


573 days ago

Good idea…It might be real handy if I decide to change the number of fingers on my hand to.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

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dalec

580 posts in 786 days


573 days ago

I suppose another option or even as a backup, is to carry a cell phone for those who have cell phones or even a wired/cordless phone in the shop that is accessible and programmed with emergency contact numbers.

Dalec

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

20740 posts in 719 days


573 days ago

Good idea, Gary. This is something that always happens to someone else, or so we assume. For those of us in the senior crowd this is excellent advice.

Thanks for the post.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View dlcarver's profile

dlcarver

260 posts in 627 days


573 days ago

Great idea Gary. I have an intercom (which we use constantly), but if something happened, I probably wouldn’t be able to get to it, it is about a foot and a half above my head.
THANKS FOR POSTING!

DAVE

-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com

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DaveH

372 posts in 676 days


573 days ago

I’ve been think about doing something similar because my wife rarely enters the shop. I could be down for hours before anyone would notice. My shop is about 75’ from the house. Thanks for the reminder!

-- DaveH - Boise, Idaho - “How hard can it be? It's only wood!”

View EdC's profile

EdC

458 posts in 738 days


573 days ago

Speaking as a Paramedic, It’s a fact that none of us like to think about needing help, like they say it’s not if but when.
A key fob is a great idea for calling for help, the best place to keep it is around your neck. Hanging it from your belt, you may not be able to get to it if you really need it. Suppose the hand that would reach it is missing?
I have responded to a number of calls for “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” it’s a good service. They check their screen at the time they are activating the EMS system and give the Medics a heads up on what they may be heading out for.
I would hate to be the spouce that did not hear the alarm. That alone makes it a good idea to have the alarm monitored.

Ed

-- Ed - Milan, IN

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GaryK

9537 posts in 886 days


573 days ago

EdC – Great comments. Something to think about.

The same place that makes the items I listed above also makes a phone dialer. It can be programmed to call more than one number and play recorded messages. 911, cell phones, pagers…

LifeAlert is the name of the “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” company and they charge $29.95 a month.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Bob #2's profile

Bob #2

3049 posts in 919 days


573 days ago

Gary, you are trying to dash one of my fondest dreams! <vbg>

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

View jm82435's profile

jm82435

508 posts in 639 days


573 days ago

I always suspected you were more than human. What other upgrades do you have? No wonder you get so many fantastic projects done, all while monitoring every new post on LJs. You are a cyborg that doesn’t need sleep huh?. lol
Seriously though, I agree it is a good idea to have an alert system. I have never thought about it before.

Bob#2 are you dreaming of dying in the shop?

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

View Ad Marketing Guy - Bill's profile

Ad Marketing Guy - Bill

314 posts in 696 days


573 days ago

GREAT Post for upcoming safety week!

-- Bill - - Ad-Marketing Guy, Ramsey NJ

View Karson's profile

Karson

25805 posts in 1298 days


573 days ago

Gary Great post. Something we don’t want to think about, but probably something that we should.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

2030 posts in 611 days


573 days ago

I carry my cell with me always, with pre set speed dials. I carry it when I’m doing construction, working in the shop, at work, or just walking in the timber. I’ve had more than my share of accidents, and that phone has got me out of some pretty tricky situations. I realize it’s not the best solution, but it helps.

Thanks Gary, for opening my eyes to other solutions!... this is a great post.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

View Tony's profile

Tony

813 posts in 927 days


572 days ago

The Bionic LJ – the secrets out now Garry!

Very good safety advice, I should look at something like this over here – sometimes its 12 hours or more between my wife going to work and coming home again – and no neighbours for 100s meters.

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

View GMman 's profile

GMman

1372 posts in 595 days


572 days ago

Great idea Gary thanks for posting , no mater what age you are anything can happen , I was doing my roof one time and I hit my finger with my hammer so hard it split the finger and after the blood started to come out I had to climb down and I felt a little weak I was all alone after I got down I wrapted it up and drove to the Hospital I was lucky…......I am going to look into one of those panic button Thanks agaim Gary

-- --<<<<<< I will not stop until I get it right. >>>>>>--

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3710 posts in 877 days


572 days ago

Hi Gary,

Great post! Gives us all something to consider.

Unless an easy button from staples will work, Ill be in trouble for sure.

They sure help during difficult projects though! LOL

I guess I’d better come up with a backup plan.

Thank you for bringing this up, as I’m sure many of us never considered this.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

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cpt_hammer

129 posts in 710 days


571 days ago

I have a very cheap solution. Recently, we have found someone peaking in our patio door at 10:30pm on night. I decided that I needed to refresh my wife on some home security items. As our keypad is in the kitchen far from the bedroom, we needed a way to scare off potential intruders. One of them is to always keep her car keys in the bedroom at night or nearby. The reason? Most cars now a days have a built in alarm system with a panic button. As my wife and I almost never set it off, my neighbors and I know that if the car alarm goes off, something is wrong. (We now use this as a backup plan for neighborhood watch also).

I also keep my keys on me when I’m in the garage doing my wood working. Now I’ve taken the clicker and put it on a belt using a one of those quick belt clips that climbers use? a Caribeaner? that way, if I injury myself, my wife can hear the car alarm. Cause I have a habit of passing out at the sight of very specific blood. My own.

View GaryK's profile (online now)

GaryK

9537 posts in 886 days


571 days ago

cpt_hammer – That’s a great solution for those who have car alarms.

I have heard that it’s also good to keep by the bedside for those noises at night. An alarm going off tends to scare intruders off.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View sharad's profile

sharad

717 posts in 702 days


569 days ago

Great GaryK Thanks for posting such important information. Recently when my palm was injured I was bleeding profusely and had to run down to my apartment holding the bleeding hand. An alarm could have brought quick help without running with the bleeding wound. By the way turmeric is a wonderful medicine to stop bleeding immediately and I always keep a bottle of turmeric at hand after this incidence.
Sharad

-- patanjali

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