Abstract:
A kit and a systematic method for alerting emergency responders of an exact location in which they have been dispatched. The system includes a container for holding medication, a strobe light and indicia for signaling the emergency responders as they approach the dispatched location. The container includes a removable seal and a hinged cap for accessing an interior volume thereof. A desiccant is secured to the bottom of the container for absorbing moisture. The kit may be powered via a solar power assembly. Further, the strobe light can be remotely activated via a conspicuous lighted button. In operation, the indicia is positioned on the exterior of a residence that indicates the user&#39;s address. As a user feels an onset of a heart attack or other emergency, then takes the medication, dials 9-1-1 immediately, unlocks the door and activates the strobe light.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/322,332 filed on Apr. 14, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to emergency alert system. More specifically, the present invention provides a system comprising a container for holding medication, a strobe light and reflective indicia for alerting emergency responders of an exact location in which they have been dispatched. 
         [0003]    Guidelines have been issued to help people to know what to do in the event that they or someone they know is having a heart attack. These guidelines instruct that the person suffering a heart attack take one chewable 325 mg uncoated aspirin tablets and then immediately call for emergency assistance, such as 911. However, a person who is at risk of having a heart attack may not have immediate access to aspirin at all times. This is particularly true for elderly individuals who may have difficulty moving about to locate aspirin or who may have poor vision that prevents them from identifying a bottle of aspirin. Further, according to several heart associations, the rate of heart attacks nationwide is approximately 790,000, leading to 114,000 fatalities. Thus, a device for allowing users to have immediate and easy access to aspirin in the event of a heart attack is desired. 
         [0004]    Calling for emergency assistance is crucial when an individual is having a heart attack. However, some residences are not clearly marked such that an emergency responder knows exactly where to go. If an emergency responder passes the location to which they are dispatched, they have to turn around and locate the address. This waste crucial time in which the individual may not have a moment to spare. Therefore, there further exists a need for a system and method of alerting an emergency responder of an exact location in which they have been dispatched. Specifically, a strobe light and address numbers designed to reflect light from an oncoming vehicle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of emergency responder alert systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new emergency responder alert system wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when alerting emergency responders of an exact location in which they have been dispatched, which can save lives in the multitude. 
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved emergency responder alert system that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. The system includes a container for holding medication, wherein the container is attached to a lanyard that is adapted to be worn around a user&#39;s neck at all times, a flashing light and indicia which includes reflective address numbers for signaling the emergency responders as they approach the dispatched location. The container includes a removable seal and a cap for accessing an interior volume thereof. A desiccant is secured to the bottom of the container for absorbing moisture. In some embodiments, the system includes a door lock. Further, the light can be remotely activated via a conspicuous lighted button adapted to be positioned on an interior wall adjacent to an exit door. In operation, the reflective indicia is positioned on the exterior of a residence that indicates the user&#39;s address. As a user feels an onset of a heart attack the user then takes the medication, dials an emergency responder, unlocks the door and activates the strobe light. The system is adapted to maintain operation in the event of a power outage, and could also be activated for emergencies other than a heart attack 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the emergency responder alert system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the container of the emergency responder alert system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of the control circuit of the emergency responder alert system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the emergency responder alert system. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for alerting emergency responders of an exact location in which they have been dispatched. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0012]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the emergency responder alert system and a perspective view of the container of the emergency responder alert system, respectively. The system  11  includes a container  12  for holding medication, such as a 325 milligram chewable uncoated aspirin  25 . The container  12  is adapted to hold multiple 325 milligram chewable uncoated aspirin  25  in the event of accidental spillage, which is very likely to occur in an emergency situation. The container  12  comprises a closed bottom  26 , an open end  27 , and one or more sidewalls  16  disposed therebetween, defining an interior volume. In the illustrated embodiment, the container  12  comprises a circular cross section, however, in alternate embodiments the container  12  comprises any suitable shaped cross section, such as a rectangle. 
         [0013]    In the illustrated embodiment, a lanyard  17  is connected to the container  12  for suspending the container  12  from a user&#39;s neck. In alternate embodiments, the lanyard  17  is adjustable in length via a buckle for allowing a user to secure the container  12  to differently sized neck lines. Preferably, the container is worn around a user&#39;s neck at all times to remain available in case of an emergency and avoid misplacement. In the illustrated embodiment the lanyard  17  comprises a pair of rings  19  configured to receive the container  12  therethrough and secure to the sidewalls  16 . The rings  19  are securely fixed in order to prevent accidental spillage and loss of the container  12  in haste. 
         [0014]    A removable seal  22  covers the open upper end  27  of the container  12  and is adapted to protect the contents of the container until the user ready to access the interior volume of the container  12  for the first time. The removable seal  22  is configured to prevent moisture from entering the container  12 . In the illustrated embodiments, the removable seal  22  is a hermetic seal. A tab  23  extends from the seal  22  in order to assist a user when removing the seal  22 . The tab  23  is preferably the size and shape of a user&#39;s fingertip so it can be easily grasped and pulled. In some embodiments, a texture, such as a plurality of ridges, is disposed on an upper and lower surface of the tab  23  in order to assist the grip of the user when pulling on the tab  23 . A hinged cap  20  is removably positioned over the seal  22  for allowing access into the interior volume of the container  12 , once the seal  22  is removed. In the illustrated embodiment, the cap  20  or hermetic seal  22  includes a perimeter section  28  that is dimensioned to fit around the outside vertical sidewall of the container  12  via a press fit. A top  29  of the cap  20  is movable along a hinge in order to provide a more narrow access to the interior volume of the container  12  than the open end  27  thereof. This allows a user to better control the flow of medication from the container  12 . In some embodiments the hinged cap  20  is permanently affixed to the container  16 , wherein only the top provides access to the interior volume of the container  16 . 
         [0015]    A desiccant  24  is secured to the bottom  26  of the container  12  for absorbing moisture. The desiccant  24  is secured to the bottom  26  such that the placement of the desiccant  24  avoids obstructing the flow of medication stored in the container  16 . Any suitable desiccant can be used as long as it can be fixed to the closed end of the container  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the desiccant  24  comprises a cylindrical shaped disc in order to fit within the cylindrical shaped container  12 . In some embodiments, the container  12  comprises uncoated aspirin  25  so as to assist a user when having a heart attack. In the event of an emergency, it is recommended that the 325 milligram uncoated aspirin is chewed immediately while waiting for emergency responders to arrive after calling 911. The desiccant is secured to the bottom of the container in order to prevent a user from mistakenly removing and accidently chewing the desiccant instead of the 325 milligram uncoated aspirin. Again, the multiple 325 milligram uncoated aspirin in the container is to provide excess in the very possible event of accidental spillage. 
         [0016]    The system  11  further comprises a light  13  disposed in a housing having a strobe mechanism  18  operably connected to the light  13  and a control, wherein the control activates the light  13 . In the illustrated embodiment, the control is a conspicuous button adapted to be positioned adjacent to a user&#39;s interior entryway or exit doorway. The button is brightly colored, such as a lighted blaze orange, in order to remain conspicuous to the user. The housing is adapted to be positioned in a window of the user&#39;s residence in order to remain visible to an emergency responder passing thereby. The light  13  is adapted to be activated in an emergency situation, wherein the light  13  flashes via the strobe mechanism  18  so as to alert an emergency responder when he or she approaches the address in which the emergency responder was dispatched. In some embodiments, the light  13  is configured to flash one or more colors, such as bright orange and bright yellow. The light  13  can be installed at an advantageous area, such as the outside of a building or visible through a window in order to remain visible to approaching emergency responders. In one embodiment, the power source for the system  11  is a solar power assembly configured to convert sunlight into electrical energy. Further, the solar power assembly is sufficient to power the light  13 . 
         [0017]    One or more indicia  14  are adapted to be positioned on an exterior of the user&#39;s residence, such as on an adjacent tree or the building itself. In the illustrated embodiment, the indicia  14  is a series of reflective letters and numbers. The indicia  14  comprises a front side having a reflective convex surface and a rear side adapted to be fastened to a surface, wherein the indicia  14  is adapted to alert an emergency responder of the address in which he or she is dispatched. The indicia  14  indicates the alphanumerical address of the user&#39;s residence. In this way, the indicia  14 , or address of the user, is visible in a dimly lit or dark environment when a vehicle&#39;s light shines thereon in order to prevent an emergency responder from passing the address. In one embodiment, the indicia  14  includes a series of numbers zero through ten. 
         [0018]    In an emergency situation, such as with the occurrence of a heart attack, it is recommended to immediately take a dose of one 325 milligram chewable uncoated aspirin, call 911, unlock a front door, and wait for the emergency responders to arrive. However, it may be likely that the emergency responders will pass by the residence in which they were dispatched. In operation, the indicia is positioned on the exterior of a residence. After the user has called 911, the seal  22  of the container  12  is removed and the user chews one 325 milligram uncoated aspirin  25 . The light  13  having the strobe mechanism is activated and the door is unlocked. The user drastically decreases the chances of an emergency responder from passing by the location in which the emergency responder was dispatched. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a diagram of the control circuit of the strobe light and the control of the emergency responder alert system. The light  13  is operably connected to the control button  21  and remotely activated thereby. In operation, a user activates the button  21  thereby illuminating the strobe light  13 . The light  13  can also be manually operated via an on/off switch disposed thereon. The system  11  is designed to also operate in the event of a power outage. 
         [0020]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0021]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.