Help is at hand, however. A Hyderabad-based firm seems to have come up with the panacea for all ills, from burglaries to medical emergencies. Security Electronics Pvt Ltd offers an Integrated Crisis Management System, made in Swedish collaboration. These products are not conventional systems - they are computerised and based on radio fire sensors that do not require cables/ducts. Plus, they can operate on any IBM compatible equipment and also through EPABX channels.

The firm was incorporated in 1974, and has pioneered a number of security gadgets over the last two decades. It has installed various systems in almost all RBI branchesand the Indian Bank Association. The company is certified by the Department of Electronics and the Department of Defence. Since 1996, it has been in a tie-up with Advanced Telmatics Ltd. With this new, unified system, several aspects are now grouped together under one umbrella i.e. theft, break-ins, fire, medical emergencies such as heart attacks, thus eliminating the need for a dedicated system for each type of security requirement as the case earlier.

How it works: The crisis call is automatically transmitted through sensors or as a radio code to the SOS sender, which in relevant data such as identity and location of the sender. The centre will ideally cover a radius of 5-10 km.

The radio is usually worn concealed into a wristwatch or even pendant, for efficient results. Alternatively, you can also go in for magnetic/infra red sensors to deter intruders, or smoke/heat sensors in case of fire; both come equipped with a siren.