Friday 15 May 2020

'Scary or what?'


On my wrist I wear a Lifeline button.   Many of those of pensionable age on our estate wear one and they are all connected to a central 'station'.   If we fall, or feel ill we press the button and the lady in charge connects us to our designated person - in my case my son, who lives near.   It is a sensible service to have and costs around £28 a month and that includes a visit from the warden once a month for a check up.

Now and again I am a very bad sleeper - perhaps about one night a month.   Last night was the night.    Nothing unusual about the evening, sandwiches and a pot of tea at 5pm and a mug of milk at bedtime.   Could I sleep?   Afraid not.   At 2am I was still awake and decided to get up and make myself a cup of comforting cocoa with milk - a real treat.   Then I took it to bed along with my book ( a superb one 'The Hired Man') and read for an hour.   At 3am I put out the light, sure I could go to sleep.

I was just drifting off (bear in mind I do not wear my hearing aids in bed) when there was a loud knock on my bedroom door which opened (it was still dark bear in mind) and there was a man in a head torch!!   Luckily I know my son has a head torch and at this point he put the light on.

The Lifeline service had rung him because I had pressed the red button.   I had no idea i had pressed it, it had slipped round my wrist and I must have been laid awkwardly.   They had first
of all rung me (without my hearing aids I am almost totally deaf) and getting no response had rung my son who had to get up, get dressed and come round to check that I was alright.

All's well that ends well as they say and as Dom said - now we have had a practice run and know that the system works.    But that knock on the door gave me a bit of a shock!

34 comments:

Rachel Phillips said...

My friend's mother regularly does this. My friend has a 12 mile drive to her mother's house. Fortunately she has a sense of humour.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I think the ensuing heart attack upon having someone burst into my bedroom in the middle of the night would be enough to push that red button! -Jenn

Ellen D. said...

Oh my goodness, you sound quite calm about it! I would have screamed, I think! Glad that all's well that ends well!

JayCee said...

Oops. Hope that doesn't happen too often.
Reminds me of the time I used the disabled access loo at work. Got my arm caught in the emergency call cord and set off the alarm. Luckily the girl on reception knocked on the door first to check before using the master key to burst in on me.

the veg artist said...

I'm sure he'll find it funny - evetually! The head torch would have had me spooked, though.

jinxxxygirl said...

Oh i bet it did give you a shock Pat! Thankfully it was your son and not a stranger... Hopefully tonight brings a fitful night sleep ... Here it is raining raining raining.... most of the night and half the day now.. lovely to me.. But then i come from dry west TX.. so a rainy day is beautiful.. Hugs! deb

Sue said...

Oh my goodness, that would have terrified me. I suppose you saw the funny side afterwards. Paul always comes to bed very late, after I am asleep. Sometimes I say "is that you?" when he climbs into bed. He replies "who do you think it is?"

Bovey Belle said...

Oh gosh, I would have been in a panic too if on my own! I am glad it was all a storm in a teacup but it shows that everything is working properly in your response system. Here it is the early morning phone calls (from delivery companies) to say they will be with us today. I always think the worse (from past experience).

Heather said...

I have always been worried about doing that so take mine off and keep it on the bedside table until I get up in the morning. God Bless wonderful sons! I know mine would do the same for me.
Hope you sleep better tonight.

Tom Stephenson said...

Why do you have the word 'ice' in small letters at the head of your post, Weave? I like it. It creates an air of mystery.

Living Alone in Your 60's said...

My father had one around his neck. It was brilliant especially when he fell outside in the garden in the freezing cold.

Bea said...

Glad to read you are well. Also good to know that the you were checked up on fairly quickly! x

Bonnie said...

Oh my goodness, if someone showed up at my bedroom door in the middle of the night I would have needed medical attention! I'm glad everything was alright. I bet it scared your son and I'm sure he scared you!

Ruth said...

These things happen - now you've had an unintended practice run, and it worked beautifully. I hope you'll never have to use it. Hoping you have a good night's sleep tonight!!

justjill said...

So glad you are ok and now know you will be!!

wherethejourneytakesme said...

That must have been quite a frightening moment for you - glad it was a mistake and I bet your son was relieved to find you OK. Here's to a better night tonight. x

Red said...

The knock on the door would be a real waker up. However, it's better than no knock.

Joanne Noragon said...

I guess you'll sleep well tonight.

Anonymous said...
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Cro Magnon said...

Oh dear. Still, better than no-one coming if you'd pressed it in an emergency. I was a little surprised that you pay so much for the service; it should be free!

thelma said...

Scary moment, but at least it shows that you have safe hands looking after you.

Virginia said...

Well, at least you now know the service works!! My aunt refused to have an alarm because her good friend set hers off laughing while talking on the phone and her Next-of-kin had to traipse all the way in from the next town - an hour's drive away! I wished she would - it would've saved me a few worried trips down to her house in the middle of the night.

Librarian said...

Oh dear, I would have had a heart attack if someone burst through my bedroom door at night! But as you say, it was a practise run and now you can all be sure it works if you really need help.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks folks. Back to normal!

Linda Metcalf said...

That knock and man in the doorway would have really scared me!

crafty cat corner said...

I remember Mum having one of these but hers was hung around her neck. Not sure why she bothered as every time I went to see her it was on the hall table,
Briony
x

Sue said...

A bit of a scare for both of you, but it's good to know that the system works.

My Mum has the same sort of thing, it comes in the service charge of the retirement complex she lives in, a button to wear around her neck and a 'panic button' in her living room and bedroom. My brother who is 10 minutes away is the first port of call with me being the second as it takes me over an hour and a half to drive there. Imagine if she pressed hers by accident and my brother wasn't available ... if she ever does I pray it's not at 3 o'clock in the morning!!

Sandi said...

Well, at least you know it works!

Oklahoma Girl said...

I have one and when you push the button an operator answers and asks if you need help. If you don't respond they will dispatch the Paramedics. Glad all is well with you.

Mary said...

When I see a man in my bedroom these days I know whom to expect - no excitement, just the same old Bob of 50+ years!!!!!

Rose ~ from Oz said...

That would have been a bit of a shock! My mum's alarm is a pendant style and has saved her a few times when she has had a fall. It's goes straight to paramedics and then they attend straight away and in turn call me after they've assessed the situation..it's a wonderful service.
And it is quite awful when one has unsettled nights.

Anonymous said...

Hello, Weaver. I am a regular reader about your age so I enjoy reading about your experiences and comparing to mine. I sympathize with you about the problem of writing daily when our days are so routine. I especially enjoy your childhood stories. Also, I have often wondered why you chose "Weaver of Grass" as your blog title. Just curious me. Hang in there and keep your great attitude toward life. Julia in Texas

Su said...

Try wearing it with the red button facing inwards, it's much more difficult to catch accidentally but just as accessible in an emergency.

At least it wasn't ambulance crew in full PPE!

Anna said...

My father did the same, but that system, after trying his phone, called my sister AND the emergency services. He was amazed next morning when my sister visited him, to hear that the night before, she had stood in his bedroom with two firemen and two police officers, while he slept peacefully on.....