How Does a Personal Alarm Work?

Personal alarms are small, mobile devices that emit a loud sound or siren when activated. They give people a simple, effective, first-line defense when exposed to threatening situations.

Operation

• A personal alarm is essentially a small, portable siren with a panic button. It is a simple device consisting of a small, powerful speaker attached to a pushbutton switch that, when pressed, emits an alarm sound, either indefinitely or for a preset period of time. The alarm typically emits a very loud sound, reaching 130 decibels in some models.

Theory Behind Personal Alarm Usage

• If you experience a situation of duress, you can use a personal alarm to grab the attention of nearby people, who can act as witnesses to any possible crime that may be unfolding. Personal alarms take advantage of the fact that criminals typically want to stay as anonymous as possible; if a loud alarm draws nearby people to you, a criminal will try to run away, to maintain anonymity.

Other Uses

• A personal alarm can draw attention when you need help or may be having a heart attack. Some personal alarm models have two parts: one that a parent or guardian holds and another that is attached to a child or pet. If the child wanders off and gets scared, he can simply press the button and the parent will easily be able to find him. Also, a parent can set off her child's alarm remotely if the child wanders off.