LIFELINE subscriber Susie Reynolds of Benton wears a LIFELINE response button around her neck. Reynolds credits LIFELINE with saving her life after a recent fire at her home.

As Susie Reynolds, 95, of Benton sat at home one evening, she began to smell something burning. She soon was overcome with a billow of black smoke. What she did next may have saved her home—and her life.

Reynolds pressed her LIFELINE button and asked the responder to contact the fire department. As she made her way out of the house, the fire department, a neighbor and her daughter, already contacted by the LIFELINE responder, were arriving.

Supported by Western Baptist’s Auxiliary, LIFELINE is a personal emergency response system designed for home use to make help available at the touch of a button 24 hours a day. LIFELINE subscribers wear a small, wireless “HELP” button around their necks, on their wrist or attached to their clothing. When a subscriber needs help, he or she pushes the HELP button, which automatically dials Baptist’s Emergency Response Center.

The service costs $25 to $35 per month; the $50 sign-up fee is waived for new members of 55Plus.

A LIFELINE subscriber for nearly a year, Reynolds appreciates the service that allows her to maintain her independence with a welcomed sense of security. “It’s a peace of mind for me and my family,” said Reynolds. “I’m telling you, I wouldn’t trade this LIFELINE for anything.”

To subscribe or for more information about LIFELINE, phone (270) 575-2779 or visit westernbaptist.com.

Lifeline Q&As

MIKE SMALLEY, LIFELINE coordinator

Q: Where is LIFELINE available?
A: LIFE LINE serves a 35- to 50-mile radius around the hospital, including Paducah, Mayfield, Murray, Fulton, Hickman, Wickcliffe, Benton, Smithland, Eddyville, Metropolis, Vienna and Brookport.

Q: Is any special equipment needed to install LIFELINE?
A: The unit must be placed on a flat surface within six feet of an electrical outlet and four feet from a modular phone jack. A wall-mounted phone cannot be used. For homes with multiple phones, a special jack is needed.

Q: When should the HELP button be worn?
A: The HELP button should be worn at all times, even when in the yard. The HELP button is completely waterproof and can be worn in the shower or bath.

Q: How does the HELP button work?
A: The HELP button triggers the home unit, attached to the telephone, which automatically dials Western Baptist Hospital’s Emergency Response Center.