BOUNTIFUL—A local company is making it their mission to help give veterans and other individuals the independence they need while keeping them safe. Bountiful based Latitude mobile alert service gives people freedom to do what they enjoy while providing reassurance that in an emergency they can quickly get help. 

“Latitude means freedom,” said Chelsea Hurst, VP of Sales for Latitude USA. “We serve those who don’t have the freedom to stay home any longer but want to be at home.”

The owner of the company Osmond Seangsuwan wanted to build a product that could help others, she said. “He is passionate about giving back especially to veterans for their life of service. Veterans have always been close to his heart.”

He worked for a group of individuals out of the country designing a device for veterans, said Hurst. “He decided to do it himself and took over building the software. He put his blood, sweat and tears into this.”

Seangsuwan was selling the device directly to the government but recently opened it up to the general public nationwide, she said. “We knew we were working with 1,000 customers so we decided ‘why not open it up?’”

It’s locally owned, she said. “We use other locally owned businesses. We want to give back to the community and put money back into their pockets as well.”

The device is a pendant called a wearable medical necklace, Hurst said. “The design is minimal and simple to use for whoever is wearing it.”

There are many different ways the pendant can be worn, she said. “You can loop it through and wear it as a pendant but there’s an option for an arm band or belt clip.”

One of the features of the device is auto fall detection, Hurst said. “Without speaking or pressing a button it detects a fall and has already contacted emergency services. It can be adjusted to fit your lifestyle. If you can push a button it will alert your emergency contacts. If there hasn’t been movement for a while it can detect that.”

Individuals can choose who to contact, she said. “We suggest 911 for safety measures and whoever can help as quickly as possible.”

Another feature is two-way talk, said Hurst. “The monitoring center answers the call and can tell them everything is OK and that help is on the way.”

Assistance is available 24/7, 365 days a year, she said. “If a device goes off it will text or email your contacts and let them know what’s occurring with their loved one.”

It’s American made, Hurst said. “That sets us apart.”

Latitude can help veterans with PTSD who are feeling in crisis and with mental health issues too, she said. “Veterans can get the device for free if they qualify. They need to go to their physician and ask for a Latitude device.”

It’s a local company but works nationally, said Hurst. “It’s cool to serve people not just in our hometown of Bountiful but all over.”

The device allows individuals to live life, she said. “They don’t have to change it but it gives loved ones peace of mind.”

It truly makes a difference every day, Hurst said. “It makes it exciting to come into work.”

Hurst said they even helped the police locate a missing person. “We want to help out and give back to the community we love.”