Panic buttons and duress
Panic alarms and duress buttons for homes, clinics and workplaces
A panic alarm is different from a medical alarm. Medical alarms are usually about health events and personal care. Panic alarms and duress buttons are often used when someone feels threatened, unsafe or needs discreet assistance.
Simple safety decisions, explained clearly.
Compare pendant alarms, GPS devices, panic buttons, fall detection and response pathways before you commit.
- Plain-English buying advice
- Family and carer-friendly guidance
- Practical alarm and duress options
Where panic buttons are used
Panic buttons can be useful in locations where staff or residents may need quick, discreet help.
- Reception counters
- Consulting rooms
- Pharmacies and clinics
- Home offices
- Retail counters
- After-hours entry points
Silent or audible response
Some duress systems trigger a silent alert. Others activate sirens, app notifications or monitoring pathways. The response should match the risk.
- Silent duress
- Audible local siren
- Mobile app notification
- Monitoring centre pathway
- Neighbour or manager escalation
Important design questions
Before choosing a button, decide who receives the alert and what they are expected to do.
- Who is notified?
- Is the alert silent?
- Is police response appropriate?
- Is there a false alarm process?
- Is installation fixed or portable?
Product options for panic and duress alarms
For people comparing hardware, SecurityWholesalers has Hikvision AX PRO duress / silent alarm kit options that show how a dedicated control panel and panic buttons can be packaged for practical duress alerting. For broader alarm hardware, you can also review SecurityWholesalers panic alarm options.
These options are generally more security/duress focused than traditional seniors medical monitoring, so the right choice depends on whether the need is medical assistance, personal safety, staff duress, or property security.
Need help choosing a medical alarm?
Tell us who the alarm is for, where it will be used and what type of response is needed. We’ll help narrow the options without confusing jargon.