Lifeline - Definition and Overview

Lifeline is the name of an emergency response service used by many senior citizens and medical patients in the United States. Founded in 1974 by Dr. Andrew Dibner, it is a manufacturer of personal alarm buttons that can be worn on the wrist or around the neck. In the event of an emergency, the button can be pushed, activating an alarm box in the person's home that will automatically dial an emergency phone number for help.

Lifeline is best known as the basis for a popular catch-phrase and in-joke of the early 1990s, "I've fallen and I can't get up;" though in fact this phrase was coined for a TV commercial for a competing service, Lifecall. (Lifecall has since gone out of business.)

In Australia there is an emergency telephone counselling service called Lifeline, run by volunteers. The volunteers are specially trained to deal with people in crisis, who may be actively suicidal.

External links

Home page for Lifeline (USA) (http://www.lifelinesys.com/)