What is a Duress Alarm

A Duress alarm is a safety device that is used by lone workers, aged care and healthcare staff, security personnel, and people living alone or with a disability to alert their employer or emergency services when they feel threatened.

Duress systems are most common in hospitals, nursing homes and medical facilities. However, you can also find them in courthouses, schools and other government buildings, manufacturing environments, and anywhere where there are potentially dangerous people or situations.

How do they work?

A duress system is activated by a button that is pressed in times of need. It sends a signal to an alarm monitoring centre or headquarters that provides responders with details about the situation.

Most duress alarms will have a dual-way alerting system. This means that responders can listen in on the lone worker to verify the alert and ensure that they’re safe before responding.

They’re most often triggered by people who are being abused, but they can also be activated in any situation where someone feels threatened or unsafe. They can be triggered through phones power buttons, or discreet buttons worn around the neck, belt or wrist that are hard to tamper with or take off.

The best places to place these devices are in areas where they will be easy for the person wearing them to reach, but difficult for other people to access. Lone Worker Alarm This is especially true for people who work alone, such as meter readers, community health nurses, and security guards.