WASHINGTON — Emergency-response buttons often worn around the neck by seniors can cause choking, U.S. regulators warn. Royal Philips Electronics NV’s Lifeline medical alert system has been tied to six cases of serious injury or death since 1998, including three deaths in the U.S. and one in Canada, the Food and Drug Administration said in a notice posted Tuesday on its website.
The cord attached to the button may get tangled with other objects worn around the neck or equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers or guardrails.
Philips, Europe’s biggest maker of consumer electronics, is sending letters to its 750,000 customers and revising the package labeling to caution about the risk of choking, the FDA said. People with limited mobility are at greater risk and should ask their doctors if another style of button, such as those worn around the wrist, is a better choice, the FDA said. Bloomberg News
