The Alert1 Kelsi On-the-Go is a wearable mobile medical alert button that connects you to a live emergency response agent from wherever you are.
For $36.95 per month, it provides clear hands-free two-way audio communication and speedy response times.
And as with most (but not all) mobile alert devices, it's waterproof, so you can wear it in the shower and take it out in the elements.
That said, you get more features for less money with our Editors' Choice, the GreatCall Lively Mobile system.
Design, Features, and Pricing
The Kelsi On-the-Go uses AT&T's cellular service to connect you to a live emergency response agent with the press of a button.
At 2.7 by 1.7 by 0.7 inches (HWD), it's smaller than the MobileHelp Solo (3.4 by 2.1 by 0.6 inches) and the Philips Lifeline GoSafe 2 (3.0 by 1.3 by 0.6), but not quite as small as the GreatCall Lively Mobile (2.1 by 1.6 by 0.6 inches).
Its glossy black face contains a 1-inch rubber help button with braille lettering, a speaker, a microphone, and four LED indicators for battery, cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi connectivity, and GPS activity.
The button has an IP67 waterproof rating, which means you can wear it in the shower and outside when it's raining.
In addition to cellular technology, it uses Wi-Fi and GPS radios to help pinpoint your location, but you'll have to upgrade to the Kelsi Pro to take advantage of the Wi-Fi feature.
The Kelsi costs $36.95 per month if you pay quarterly, and $30.95 if you pay annually or semi-annually.
That's similar in price to the MobileHelp Solo ($37.95 per month), and a bit more affordable than the Medical Guardian Active Guardian (49.95 per month) and Philips GoSafe 2 ($44.95 per month) systems, but not quite as affordable as the GreatCall Lively Mobile ($24.99 per month).
In addition to Wi-Fi, the Kelsi Pro offers fall detection technology.
It costs $47.95 per month if paid quarterly and $41.95 per month if paid annually or semi-annually.
The Kelsi comes with a lanyard, a cradle charger, and a user guide.
You don't get any extra services like a mobile app for caregivers and family to track your activity, location, or emergency calls.
It also lacks things like medication reminders and access to medical advice, but you will receive an email reminder to charge the device when the battery is low.
Installation and Performance
Before using the Kelsi for the first time, you must charge it until the battery LED is solid red.
Typical charging time is two to three hours, and once fully charged, the battery will last up to five days.
As with any mobile alert system, it's a good idea to perform a test call before you hit the road, but make sure you let the agent know that you are performing a test, otherwise they will send an emergency responder to your location.
The Kelsi provided good response times (the time it takes for a live agent to come online after the button is pressed) in testing.
It averaged 35 seconds, which is nearly identical to the MobileHelp Solo (36 seconds) and notably faster than the Bay Alarm Medical Mobile GPS Help Button (59 seconds), but not as fast as the Medical Guardian Active Guardian (25 seconds) and the Philips GoSafe 2 (26 seconds).
The GreatCall Lively Mobile remains our leader with a response time of 13 seconds.
Audio communications with the emergency response center were clean and adequately loud, and every agent I spoke with was professional and friendly.
I also received an email after four days of use telling me that my device was due for a recharge.
Conclusions
Fast response times and a five-day battery life make the Alert1 Kelsi On-the-Go a solid choice for a mobile medical alert system.
It offers clean, easy-to-understand audio communication with the emergency response center, and can be worn in any weather as well as in the shower.
You can save a few bucks by paying for your subscription annually or semi-annually, but you'll still be spending more per month than you will with the GreatCall Lively Mobile device.
Granted, the Kelsi offers longer battery life than the Lively Mobile, but it's not quite as compact and not nearly as fast in terms of response time.
It also lacks the tracking app and the client and caregiver services that you get with the Lively Mobile, which is why it remains our Editors' Choice for portable medical alert systems.
