Posted on 03/22/2005 4:41:49 AM PST by Bostton1
Woman survives 12 days in bathtub
PORTLAND — A fully clothed Salem woman who said she spent 12 days stranded in a bathtub after falling in because of a medical condition was rescued Monday, authorities said.
Mary Kelso, 57, was in serious condition at Salem Hospital late Monday, said Bill Holmstrom, a spokesman for the Salem Fire Department.
Holmstrom, who declined to describe Kelso's medical problem, said Kelso was able to drink water during most of her ordeal.
"She was just too weak to get out of the tub,'' he said.
The authorities discovered Kelso when someone asked them to perform a welfare check on her. When they knocked on her door, they got no answer. Kelso, however, managed to bang a wall hard enough to get their attention.
Kelso told paramedics that she fell into the empty tub on March 9.
"I think the water made a huge difference,'' Holmstrom said. "I think we're really lucky to have a person who survived.''
We've equipped my parents, and my in-laws when they were living, with those "life buttons."
Cost is 30 bucks per month per household, and if they fall (and don't lose conciousness), they can press the button and help will be sent.
First the company tries to establish voice contact, through a speaker placed in a central location in the home. If they cannot, they alert paramedics immediately and the "call list" that has been provided (close neighbors or family).
Probably looked pretty wrinkled after this! Anyway, I'm happy somebody finally found her.
Do those buttons need battery changes, or are they rechargable?
I'm thinking how ironic it would be if one fell in a heap while the button was docked in the charger.
Well, at least she had water to drink. That's more than poor Terri Schiavo is getting. Still praying for a miracle for Terri.
No batteries per se. The transmitter plugs into your phone line and then an AC adaptor powers it.
The necklace (or wristband, the button comes in either version) is worn at all times while the person is in the house alone.
They regularly test the "button" and if the battery (I imagine it's a watch battery) gets low, they send you a new necklace or bracelet.
30 dollars a month sound kind of expensive for something like that. you should check out one of these...
http://www.safetyandsecuritycenter.com/emcalal.html
It costs $250 but that would be paid off in 9 months.
Yes you wear it in the shower.
There is nothing funny about it!
I have a muscle disease and it was so bad in the beginning that I could not get out of a bathtub without help. I was unaware I was that weak and had to get help to get out.
It is very frightening and humiliating.
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