Thank you to GreatCall for providing a complimentary product sample along with a 3-month trial of their service for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.
Keeping children safe is every parent’s priority and GreatCall's 5Star Urgent Response is an excellent tool to help protect them. Whether a child gets lost, is threatened, scared, or in any other emergency situation, all he has to do is press the button and they are almost instantly connected with a National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) Certified Response Agent who can access their emergency contacts, medical information, dispatch 911, locate the child, or connect them to a live nurse. Plus, the agent will remain on the line with the child until the situation is completely resolved or other help has come. This device is small and lightweight enough to be carried in a child’s pocket, clipped to them, or hung from a keychain so it is always handy and accessible when any situation occurs. And, a portion of the proceeds from the 5Star sales goes to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the charity that was founded by John Walsh.
When you receive your GreatCall 5Star, the first thing you are instructed to do is complete the online setup which has you enter your child’s name, address, medical information, and any other pertinent info as well as contact numbers for both parents and any other emergency contacts you would choose. The setup was pretty quick and straightforward but also very thorough. You can then send an automated test call to your device to make sure it’s functioning properly.
(Please turn the volume up on your computer or device in order to hear the audio.)
The first time we sent the test call, Quinn accidentally hit the button too many times and we ended up with a response agent calling us on the device to verify everything was okay. She was very nice about our mistake but went ahead and made sure the GPS was functioning properly and it was perfectly accurate down to our exact address, not just a general location. She also verified our information was correct. I was surprised at how crystal clear her voice came through and how she instantly knew to whom she was speaking and addressed Quinn by name. That was very comforting to me! Because he has Asperger’s, he does not handle stressful situations well, so knowing that he has help at the touch-of-a-button that will know his name and address him by it is very reassuring. I think that will make a big difference in the event of an emergency. Knowing they also have a way to contact me in the event that we get separated somehow is very comforting as well.
I am really thankful we got this device and will be continuing our service once our trial 3 month period is complete. I hope we never have a need for this, but knowing that Quinn has it gives me peace of mind. The GreatCall 5Star Urgent Response device comes in black and silver and retails for $49.99 at GreatCall.com. Currently they are running a 10% off sale for back to school here. The monthly subscription service for the device is $14.99.
You can visit GreatCall on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Google+, and LinkedIn. Also, here is a site with some great safety tips for kids that GreatCall recommends.
