If there’s one thing we can rely on here in the UK, it’s bad weather. Nowadays, the electricity network is designed to minimise the impact of storms, lightning strikes, and other extreme weather. Our Lifeline alarms are no exception. For example, the Lifeline Personal Alarm contains a backup battery which can power the alarm for 40 hours in the event of a power cut. However, even the most reliable systems can encounter the occasional blip. In very rare circumstances, a lightning strike or storm could have an impact on your Lifeline alarm.
Today’s article will help you make sure your electronics – including your Lifeline alarm – are still in perfect working order after a storm.
What To Do During A Storm
Lightning is probably the biggest threat to people and property during a storm. In the UK, there are between 200,000 and 300,000 lightning strikes each year on average. However, only a quarter of these strikes are close enough to the ground to be hazardous.
To minimise the impact of any lightning strikes during a storm, the Met Office advises unplugging electrical appliances like televisions and computers. This is because lightning can cause power surges, which can damage your electronics.
Electricity can travel through phone lines, so you might want to avoid making calls on your landline during a lightning storm if you can.
What To Do After A Storm
If lightning has struck phone lines near your home, your telephone or Lifeline alarm could be affected. Wait a little while after the last flash of lightning – around 30 minutes – and test any electronic appliances you think may have been impacted.
To test your landline telephone, just pick it up and listen for the dial tone. If there is no dial tone, something isn’t quite right. This could be an issue with the telephone handset itself, or with your landline socket. Call your telephone provider on your mobile phone for support.
Testing Your Lifeline Alarm After a Storm
Testing your Lifeline alarm couldn’t be simpler. You can see the alarm unit’s status at a glance via the LED status light. If the light is green, your alarm is functioning as normal. If the light is red, your alarm unit may have lost telephone connection or the internal battery may be running low (this would only occur after a lengthy power cut).
After a storm or at any time, you can press your pendant button or the red button on the base unit to make a test call. This will raise an alert with our Response Team, just like in an emergency. When the Response Team answers the call, just inform them that you’re testing your Lifeline alarm.
Test calls are no trouble at all. In fact, the responder will be happy to know everything is alright and your alarm is in perfect working order. Feel free to make a regular test call once a month if you’d like. We want all our Lifeline alarm users to have total peace of mind.
Stay Safe At Home
If you have any further questions about your Lifeline alarm, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 0800 999 0400, email us at info@lifeconnect24.co.uk, or contact us online via our website or our social media. The Lifeline Customer Service Team is open 24 hours a day to support all of our alarm users.
If you would like to order a Lifeline alarm, call 0800 999 0400 or click here to order online.
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