About us

As someone who lives alone, Bev is forever grateful for the companionship she and Jacko share, “we look after each other” she says, but she never thought he would be the one to save her one day.

At the age of seventeen Bev suffered a horrific car accident, crushing both of her legs. Doctors thought she would never walk again. Her father built training walkways, fitted bannisters to the stairs and helped her through recovery. Remarkably, she did walk again. As the years passed, walking became increasingly difficult, and now at the age of 79 Bev relies on a walking stick for support. She became prone to falling and decided to use Freedom Medical Alarm for extra care and peace of mind.

Bev says “the first time I fell with the Freedom Medical Alarm neck pendant I was too scared to push the button. I should be able to get myself up from the bedroom floor without needing to waste anyone’s time coming to get me.” Bev crawled around her bedroom floor a few times before giving in and pressing the alarm for help. Once Wellington Free paramedics arrived Bev said she felt a huge sense of relief. “Knowing someone is there to help when I need them most gives me great peace of mind” she says.

The next time she fell and needed help Bev didn’t hesitate, “I knew help would arrive and the lovely paramedics would be there.”

In the past two years Bev has used her Freedom Medical Alarm on a number of occasions, mainly for falls. But last January someone else helped Bev sound the alarm.

“It was a beautiful warm day” Bev remembers, “I popped outside to the garden for some fresh air and to check on the apples growing on the tree. I don’t remember what happened next but I woke up and I was lying on the floor with Jacko scratching at my chest.” Bev had fallen, knocked her head and couldn’t get up.

Bev remembers Jacko putting his paw gently on the Freedom Medical Alarm necklace and pushing the button. “I gave him a cuddle and said ‘what a good boy!’”.

The phone started ringing as the Wellington Free Ambulance emergency medical call taker called back to see what help was needed. Jacko ran inside and woofed at the base unit so the call taker could hear something was wrong.

“He ran in the house and was woofing at the phone. He came back to sit with me and when the phone rang again he ran back inside and kept woofing” says Bev.

Before long, two paramedics arrived at Bev’s back garden gate. “They seemed to remember Jacko from a previous visit” she says.

After assessing Bev on the floor the paramedics were able to help Bev stand and get her inside. “I was able to walk for myself and I had no injuries so we went inside, had a cup of coffee and the ambulance man played with Jacko” Bev says.

While Bev didn’t need to go to hospital and didn’t need any bandages or treatment, she did need help. She needed her Freedom Medical Alarm, she needed two friendly paramedics to help her up again and check she was okay and she needed her much-loved Jacko to look after her once again, just like he always has.

Freedom Alarms and Wellington Free Ambulance work closely together to care for you in an emergency.  When you push your alarm, a message comes straight into the Wellington Free Ambulance 111 Communications Centre.

One of our highly trained Emergency Medical Call Takers receives your message and will phone you immediately.  If they can’t reach you by phone, we will get in touch with your emergency contacts and send one of our paramedics to check on you. For more information about Freedom Medical Alarms visit www.freedomalarms.co.nz or call 0800 380 280

Pushing your alarm tells us something has happened and you need our help.  We will phone you back and arrange the most appropriate help for you based on what you tell us.