Seniors & Mobile Phones
With the exception of teenagers, the growing driver demographic of aging Americans have the highest crash death rates per mile driven, according to recent highway safety research.
Many motorists die and far more suffer severe and lasting injuries because emergency responders do not know when an auto crash or medical incident has occurred. Precious minutes and lives are lost because emergency responders cannot automatically locate a wireless 911 caller or dispatch appropriate emergency care.
According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, the first 60 minutes of care after a multiple trauma injury are crucial. Trauma experts often refer to this crucial life or death time period as the "Golden Hour." Experts in the field have determined that during the Golden Hour the likelihood of death increases 1 percent for every minute lost before emergency care arrives.
So, why is it important for elderly people to have cell phones? First, it is a way for seniors to keep in contact with their children and grandchildren. As we get older, it is important that we can stay in contact with family in case of a physical problem that may occur. Seniors should be encouraged not only to have a cell phone, but also to keep it on their person at all times. This is important because seniors are more prone to accidents or health problems and emergency situations. The GPS location tracking feature is on some cell phones and can help a senior get from place to place and also help locate a senior who is lost.
