Life Alert Emergency Response
 | |
| Personal Emergency Response Services | |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Encino, California |
Key people | founded by Zohar Loshitzer, Arik Amir, Isaac Shepher |
| Website | http://www.lifealert.com |
Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc. is a nationwide American company, with headquarters in Encino, California, which provides services that help the elderly contact emergency services. founded 1987 by Zohar Loshitzer, Arik Amir and Isaac Shepher The company's system consists of a main unit and a small wireless help button that is worn on the user at all times for people starting at the retirement age. Former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop appeared in commercials for Life Alert starting in 1992, stating that he wore one. He remained a spokesman for the company until his death in 2013.
About the Life Alert service
Life Alert was founded by Isaac Shepher, Zohar Loshitzr, and Arik Amir and it consists of a pendant-shaped device, worn on a necklace or wristband, and an automated dialer connected to a telephone line. When an elderly or handicapped person falls down and cannot get up, or has an emergency, such as a break-in, a telephone may be out of reach. To get quick assistance, the customer simply presses a button on the pendant. This activates the automated dialer and calls a company call center. The dialer then works as a speaker phone. At the other end is an emergency services dispatcher to alert the authorities to the customer's predicament.
The service is marketed as a way for seniors to continue living at home rather than move to a retirement home and is available nationwide.[1]
Trademarks
The phrase "I've fallen and I can't get up!" was originally trademarked in September 1992 by LifeCall that went out of business in 1993.[2] In June 2007, it was registered as a trademark of Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc., which first used the slogan in its commercials in 1987. A similar phrase, "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!", was registered by Life Alert in October 2002.[3] Both phrases have been used in Life Alert TV commercials since 1987 and have been featured on its websites. The classic commercial featuring this slogan was ranked Number One by USA TODAY in its 2007 list of the most memorable TV commercials from the past 25 years.[4][5] In late 2006, Life Alert entered into a licensing agreement with Hallmark Cards to sell greeting cards that feature an audio recording of "I've fallen and I can't get up".[6]
Popular culture
- Life Alert was featured on The Martha Stewart Show in a segment on tech devices for health, which aired on January 23, 2008.[7]
- In an episode of 30 Rock Liz Lemon answers Jack Donaghy's jab at her dying alone by showing him her Life Alert necklace.[8]
- The Supernatural episode mentions Life Alert famous line "fallen, and can't get up" [9]
- Jay Leno frequently refers to Life Alert or its slogan.[10]
- The 2013 sitcom The Goldbergs featured a 1987 commercial of the original Life-Alert and later quotes "I've fallen and I can't get up."
- In an episode of the sitcom Roseanne, Roseanne throws her back out and exclaims "I threw my back out and I don't have one of those things! I shouldn't have laughed at that old lady on TV!"
- In a Pokémon episode, A Poké-BLOCK Party! (AG039), when Jessie falls and pushes the log off the ledge purposely during the second puzzle, she says: "I've fallen and I can't get up!"
References
- ↑ "Life Alert President and CEO Isaac Shepher Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2006 Award Winner in the Greater Los Angeles Area". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ ""I've fallen and I can't get up!" trademark info". Tarr.uspto.gov. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ ""Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!" trademark info". Tarr.uspto.gov. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ "Ads we can't get out of our heads". Usatoday.com. 2007-07-22. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ "Life Alert's Slogan 'I've Fallen, And I Can't Get Up!' Ranked Number One on USA TODAY's List of Most Memorable Ad Campaigns". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ "Life Alert Licenses Famous Slogan "I've Fallen, And I Can't Get Up!" To Hallmark". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ "Life Alert featured on The Martha Stewart Show". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ The Fabian Strategy 14:59–15:06, aired 23 September 2010, NBC
- ↑ "The Super Natural, aired October 2010".
- ↑ "Jay Leno: Luckily Hugh Hefner was able to call an ambulance using his Life Alert".