Posey Personal Alarm User Manual

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CALCULATED BATTERY LIFE

(BASED ON CONTINUOUS ALARM)

ALARM
FRONT

7

1

2

ATTACHMENT CORD

6

8

ALARM BACK

10

SADDLE

12 12

TONE

SELECTOR

9

11

ATTACHMENT CORD

4

5

SADDLE

12 12

3

9

11



FALL MANAGEMENT

Before using this Fall Monitor, read entire instruction
sheet and save for future reference.

The Posey Personal Alarm is designed to alert you to the patient/
resident’s movement beyond a predetermined distance. The alarm
may be set to alarm in one of five different tones. This allows you to
assign a specific tone to an indiv idual patient/resident. The distinct
alarm allows you to quickly identify which patient/resident requires
immediate attention. In addition, having variable tones to choose
from lets you select a tone that is unique from the other alarms in
your facility.

The Personal Alarm features two mounting options. It may be applied
to a wheelchair, geri-chair or bed frame with its saddle mount; or it
may be applied directly to a surface such as a nightstand, headboard,
or toilet with the adhesive hook and loop attachment. For your
convenience, each alarm is shipped with one strip of adhesive backed
loop for mounting.

Response:

Each facility should determine the appropriate protocol for
responding to fall monitor alarms.

REF

8202L Personal Alarm

Alarm Unit Features:

• Five selectable alarm tones/ patterns for patient identification.

• Alarm volume approximately 95dB at one foot (1’) from the alarm.

• Optional sound dampening plug.

• Low battery light indicates battery change needed (10% power
remaining).

• Two mounting options for use in bed, chair or bathroom.

• A single 9-Volt battery provides up to 280 hours of continuous
alarm.

• Impact resistant plastic.

• Adjustable cord: 31” - 60” (79 cm - 152 cm).

• Compact size: 2”x 4”x 1” (5 cm x 10 cm x 2 ½ cm).

• Lightweight, 4-ounce unit.

Selecting Alarm Tone:

1. To step through the five tone options, press the tone selector on

the side of the unit.

2. When the magnet is engaged, pressing the tone selector will

produce a two-second audio sample of each tone.

3. Continue pressing the tone selector until the desired tone is

heard.

4. The last tone heard will be the tone selected for use until a new

selection is made.
NOTE: The tone you select will affect battery life. Choose tone one
(the single, rapid beep pattern) for the longest possible battery life.
See Variable Tone Chart below.

Posey® Personal Alarm

1. Battery Door

2. Metal Plate

3. Magnetic Block

4. Sliding Adjuster

5. Clip

6. Tone Selector

7. Low Battery Light

8. Sound Dampening Plug

9. Loop Patch (adhesive)

10. Hook Patch (on alarm)

11. Loop Patch (saddle)

12. Hook and loop strap (saddle)

Optional Sound Dampening Plug:

To decrease the alarm volume, insert the Sound Dampening Plug into
the hole on the face of the alarm unit. For maximum alarm volume,
DO NOT use plug.

• NEVER use sound dampening plug if patient can move out of
hearing distance of staff by wheelchair or other means.

• NEVER place alarm unit closer than two feet from patient’s ear
(even if sound dampening plug is in use).

ALWAYS verify you can hear the alarm volume at the furthest
possible distance before leaving patient unattended. NEVER place the
alarm unit closer than two feet from patient’s ear to minimize patient
noise exposure. Refer to Occupational Safety and Health
Administration Occupational Noise Exposure Standards 1910.95 for
additional information.

Alarm Unit Mounting Instructions - Saddle Mount

1. Choose a secure location out of the patient’s reach, preferably in

the rear, below the chair seat
(Fig. 1).

2. Wrap the saddle strap firmly

around a bar of wheelchair or
bed frame. Check that saddle is
secure and will not move.

3. Press hook material on alarm

unit firmly to loop material on
saddle (Fig. 2).

4. Check that alarm unit is clear of

all moving parts of the chair
(Fig. 3).

Wheelchair Mount

attached to lower, rear

wheelchair frame

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Posey Company • 5635 Peck Road, Arcadia, CA 91006-0020 USA • www.posey.com
Phone: [phone] or 1.626.443.3143 • Fax: [phone] or 1.626.443.5014
MADE IN CHINA

© 2012 Posey Company. All rights reserved.

Fig. 3

M5047C REV D 050412

Posey® Personal Alarm (Cont.)

Hook and Loop Mount

1. Choose site on head or footboard or other
mounting surface, i.e. nightstand, out of the
patient’s reach (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4

2. Clean site with alcohol wipe and let it dry.

3. Attach self-adhesive loop (fuzzy) patch (9). Peel

off backing and press into place on the
mounting surface. NOTE: Adhesive on loop will
not adhere to vinyl or other slick surface.

4. Press the hook (rough) patch (10) on back of
alarm unit firmly to the loop patch on
mounting surface. Be sure alarm unit is secure
and will not move.

Connecting Magnet Cord to Patient

1. Use slider to adjust cord to desired length.
Cord adjusts from 31” to 60” (79 cm to 152 cm).

2. Attach clip near shoulder:

• Of clothing patient is not likely to
remove; and

• Out of the patient’s reach (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Fig. 5a Fig. 5b

3. Check that attachment point is in good
condition and is not frayed or torn.

4. Secure clip lock by rotating it clockwise. This
will reduce risk that patient can remove clip.

Patients with Pacemakers or
Defibrillators

The Posey Personal Alarm is designed to safely
monitor patients with external or implanted:

• Pacemakers; or

• Defibrillators.

However, extra care must be taken with magnets
around these devices (see Warnings below).
Consult with a qualified medical authority if you
have any questions about patient safety.

PACEMAKERS: Contact with a magnet can cause a
pacemaker to go into “magnetic mode”. This could
result in an increase or decrease in pacemaker speed.

DEFIBRILLATORS: Magnet contact can stop
therapy! If patient is in ventricular spasms, magnet
may suspend the signal and cause defibrillator to
fail to supply needed therapy.

To reduce the risk of severe injury or death:

• ALWAYS keep magnets AT LEAST 1½” (4 cm) from
these devices and implant sites.

• NEVER tape or adhere any magnet to these
devices or implant sites.

Before Leaving Patient Unattended

ALWAYS follow these steps each time before

leaving patient unattended:

1. Cord clip is securely
fastened to clothing
out of the patient’s
reach.

2. Clip lock is engaged
(Fig. 6).

3. Magnet cord is not tangled, and is the right
length for safe monitoring.

4. Alarm activates each time you remove magnet
from face of alarm. Reattach magnet to
resume monitoring. DO NOT leave a patient
unattended until you find and solve the problem.

Fig. 6

Battery Replacement

1. Make sure magnet is
attached to the metal plate.

2. Press down on arrow and
slide the battery door open.

3. Remove the battery from
the compartment and hold
in one hand with thumb on
the terminal cap. Battery
connection wires should be away from the
thumb. DO NOT pull the terminal cap wires.

4. Use thumb to push the terminal cap up, off the
battery (Fig. 7).

5. Connect terminal cap to the new battery. Make
sure the battery is securely connected to the
terminal cap and insert into alarm unit.

6. Slide battery door closed.

7. Test system to verify it is working properly before

leaving patient unattended.

• Battery can explode or leak and cause damage to

alarm or skin if installed backwards, disassembled,
fully discharged or exposed to water, fire or high
temperatures.

• ALWAYS install a completely new battery when

the low battery light illuminates.

• Installing battery incorrectly can cause battery to

utilize more power than normal and discharge
sooner, causing possible corrosion. Take care when
installing new battery.

Fig. 7

Cleaning Instructions

• Alarm Unit and Saddle Mount – Wipe clean with

disinfectant liquids that DO NOT contain Phenol
or Benzyl. DO NOT submerge in liquid or sterilize
with heat.

• Hook and Loop – Use stiff brush to remove dust
and lint.

Proper Handling and Use

If the Posey Personal Alarm is subjected to severe
mechanical shock, such as dropping, or is submerged
in liquid, it may stop functioning as designed.
Visually inspect the unit for cracks in the case,
missing screws, missing battery door, broken wires or
signs of exposure to liquid. After each incident, you
must verify that the unit is working properly.

Storage Instructions

• This device is designed for use in normal indoor
environments.

• This device may be stored in ambient warehouse
temperatures at normal humidity levels. Avoid
excess moisture or high humidity that may
damage product materials.

Disposal

Dispose of per your facility policy or applicable
local code for BIOHAZARDOUS material.

• Read alarm instructions prior to use.

• ALWAYS test system per instructions prior to use.

• This device may not be suitable for use with all
“high fall risk” patients.

• This device should not be a substitute for
maintaining the routine visual monitoring
protocol by healthcare personnel.

• This device provides the earliest possible
warning that a patient is at immediate risk of
falling. This device does not prevent falls.

• If the alarm is mounted on the wall, the extra
distance from the headboard to the wall must be
considered.

• If the bed is elevated or lowered, cord length
should be changed accordingly. A cord that is
too short to accommodate movement may
result in a “false alarm”. A cord that is too long
could allow the patient to move beyond the
predetermined safe range of mobility.

• Ensure the cord is free to pull straight out from the
monitor and is not blocked by pillows or beddings,
and is not entangled in the side rails or headboard.

• When used in conjunction with side rails, be sure
cord length accommodates the side rails and is
not subject to entanglement.

Limited Lifetime Warranty:

The Posey Company warrants to the original
purchaser, the alarm unit to be free from defects in
materials and workmanship for the life of the unit.
Warranty void if unit is opened, damaged, or
submerged. This warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may also have other rights, which
vary from state to state.

Posey Company • 5635 Peck Road, Arcadia, CA 91006-0020 USA Phone: [phone] or 1.626.443.3143 • Fax: [phone] or 1.626.443.5014 • Web: www.posey.com