EmergAlert: (SOS) Safety Band

Abstract

This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of the EmergAlert band, a wearable emergency response system integrating location tracking and communication capabilities. The system addresses critical personal safety concerns by providing immediate assistance through a minimalist two-button interface. Powered by an ESP32C3 microcontroller and an A9G GSM/GPRS/GPS module, the EmergAlert band enables location tracking, SMS communication, and voice calling. Power optimization allows 72+ hours of operation, with a 92% reduction in power consumption during sleep mode. Testing confirmed high reliability with a 97.2% SMS delivery success rate and a 97.8% call connection rate in moderate signal conditions. Future enhancements in hardware miniaturization and algorithm optimization will improve efficiency while maintaining system reliability.

Introduction

Personal safety concerns are rising, especially for elderly people, those with chronic conditions, and high-risk workers, but traditional emergency tools like mobile phones are often inadequate in urgent situations. The EmergAlert Band is a wearable device combining GSM/GPS technology for real-time tracking and emergency communication with minimal user interaction, making it suitable for users with limited mobility or in stressful emergencies.

Existing wearables like SAFER, Garmin Sensakare, and Apple Watch offer safety features but face issues such as high cost, complex use, limited battery life, or lack of standalone communication. The EmergAlert Band aims to address these gaps by providing a cost-effective, power-efficient, standalone emergency solution with reliable GSM connectivity.

The Indian personal safety market is growing rapidly, driven by government support and public awareness, highlighting the need for affordable, long-lasting devices with reliable communication, especially in rural areas.

System design includes a low-power ESP32C3 microcontroller, an integrated GSM/GPS module, a battery lasting over 72 hours, and a simple two-button interface. The software uses a state machine for power efficiency, handles communication retries, and ensures security with authorized contacts. A companion app allows users and caregivers to configure settings and monitor status in real time.

Testing shows high communication success rates (>97%), accurate location tracking, effective power savings, and reliable performance even in low-signal conditions.

Target users include elderly individuals, people with chronic illnesses, persons with disabilities, solo high-risk workers, outdoor enthusiasts, and vulnerable populations needing discreet emergency alerts.

Future enhancements planned include solar charging for longer battery life, voice-activated alerts, machine learning-based fall detection, integration with emergency services, AI-driven risk prediction, and features supporting elderly care like medication reminders.

Conclusion

The EmergAlert Band successfully demonstrates an affordable, efficient, and accessible emergency response system. By focusing on core functionalities rather than feature overload, the device ensures reliability in critical situations. It is designed to empower users with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that enables them to seek assistance with minimal effort, particularly in high-stress scenarios. Moving forward, enhancing AI-driven risk prediction, integrating health monitoring capabilities, and expanding emergency service partnerships will further strengthen the system’s impact. The addition of machine learning-based fall detection and voice-activated alerts will enhance accessibility, making it more useful for individuals with limited mobility or cognitive impairments. Furthermore, the potential for solar charging and extended power management strategies can make the device even more self-sustainable, particularly in low-resource settings. This research contributes to the growing field of assistive technology, providing a scalable, real-world safety solution that enhances personal security and emergency response efficiency. By continuing to refine and innovate upon this foundation, the EmergAlert Band has the potential to revolutionize emergency response for vulnerable populations worldwide, offering peace of mind to both users and their caregivers. The EmergAlert Band successfully demonstrates an affordable, efficient, and accessible emergency response system. By focusing on core functionalities rather than feature overload, the device ensures reliability in critical situations. Future work will enhance power efficiency, voice activation, and automated distress detection. This research contributes to the growing field of assistive technology, providing a scalable solution for personal safety worldwide.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Harshvardhan Shinde, Bhumika Potekar, Yogita Lohar, Rajnikant Palwe. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.