Hi everyone, I wanted to share a project I’ve been working on to help my mother, who lives alone and has some mobility challenges. The goal was to create a reliable emergency alert system that’s easy to use and minimizes the risk of accidental activation. I thought this might be useful for others in similar situations!
I started by researching simple, reliable devices that could trigger an alert with minimal effort. After some consideration, I settled on the Shelly Button. It’s compact, wireless, and integrates seamlessly with my existing smart home setup. The idea is that my mother can wear it on a necklace or keep it within easy reach.
Here’s how the system works:
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Trigger Mechanism: The Shelly Button is programmed to send an alert after three quick presses. This reduces the chance of accidental activation while ensuring it’s still easy to use in an emergency.
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Notification Chain: When the button is pressed, it triggers a series of actions:
- A local siren sounds to alert anyone nearby.
- I receive an immediate notification on my phone.
- If I don’t acknowledge the alert within three minutes, the system automatically sends an SMS to emergency services with my mother’s medical details and the address.
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Fallback System: To ensure reliability, I also set up a GSM modem connected to my smart home hub. This way, even if the internet goes down, the alert system remains functional.
The setup has been a huge relief for both of us. It’s been running smoothly for a few weeks now, and I’m confident it provides an extra layer of security. I’d love to hear if anyone has similar setups or suggestions for improvement!
Safety first, everyone! 