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Remember
Me™
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Remember Me™?
Remember Me™ is a childcare transport safety alarm system designed to
prompt the drivers and/or caregivers to properly inspect the vehicle for
any remaining occupants.
More specifically, when the vehicle ignition is turned off, a unique
combination of beeps and lights are activated prompting the staff to
make a complete vehicle inspection. Upon reaching the rear of the
vehicle, the system is reset by using a patent pending set of buttons.
If the vehicle is left without a proper system reset, the vehicle hazard
lights will flash, the vehicle horn will honk, and an interior strobe
light will flash summoning staff or passersby to investigate the source
of the alarm.
Many additional safety features are also included in the Remember Me™
system. Please see below for further details.
Why are the reset
buttons at the back of the vehicle?
The reset buttons for the Remember Me™ system are placed at the back of
the van in order to require the operator and/or caregiver to move
through the entire vehicle, checking every seat as they go, to reach the
buttons and reset the system.
Why are there 2 dual
reset buttons at the back of the vehicle?
We designed Remember Me™ with 2 reset buttons placed about 50 inches
apart to help ensure that no small child could be sent to the back of
the vehicle to reset the system. The buttons must be pressed at the
same time.
How does Remember Me™ prompt the daycare staff to check the vehicle
for any remaining occupants?
When
the vehicle ignition is turned ‘Off’, the Remember Me™ system activates
a dash mounted light and a beeping sound. The light and the beeper make
a flash / beep every 15 seconds for a period of 5 minutes to remind the
operator to check the vehicle once all unloading activity has been
completed. If unloading takes longer than 5 minutes, the flash and the
beep become considerably more urgent demanding attention to the system.
What happens if the reset buttons are not pressed in time?
If
the Remember Me™ system is not reset with the dual rear reset buttons
before the timer expires, the system will sound an alarm indicating that
the vehicle was left without being thoroughly inspected for occupants.
This alarm can be shut off by properly pressing the 2 reset buttons in
the back of the vehicle.
What is the purpose of the dash mounted timer reset button?
When
the transport vehicle ignition is turned ‘Off’ at the end of a run,
Remember Me™ prompts the operator to move through the interior of the
vehicle to inspect for any remaining occupants and to reset the system
via the two dual reset buttons. The operator has a total of 5 minutes
to unload and properly inspect the interior of the vehicle. If the
unloading operation goes beyond this preset time, the operator will be
given the chance to add another 5 minutes to the timer. This is done
with the dash mounted timer reset button and is especially useful if the
transport vehicle only has one operator and the vehicle ignition gets
turned ‘Off’ at an extended loading / unloading stop. Again, the dash
mounted timer reset button will allow as much time as necessary to
properly load / unload the vehicle.
Note: The dash mounted timer reset button can only reset the
loading / unloading timer. The only way to fully reset
the Remember Me™ system is to move through the vehicle to get to the two
dual reset buttons.
How do the dual reset
buttons work? How are they tamper resistant?
Remember Me™ designers, early in the development phase, identified the
rear mounted reset button as the most critical aspect of the entire
system. This button has to hold up to the rigors of daily commercial
use, be jam-resistant, child-resistant, inaccessible from the exterior
of the vehicle and, most importantly, get the operator to the rear of
the vehicle for a proper occupant safety inspection. Remember
Me™ addresses all of these design issues with a unique and patent
pending system of two rear mounted, dual, and tamper-resistant reset
switches.
The
following are some specific issues addressed by the Remember Me™ system:
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Other systems
The rear reset button can be accessed from the exterior of
the vehicle by opening a back door or window.
Remember Me™
By utilizing a system of 2 strategically located reset
buttons, access from the outside of the vehicle is impossible.
Other systems
In order to prevent the operator from accessing the reset
button from the exterior of the vehicle, other manufacturers
have recommended moving the button further forward in the
interior of the vehicle.
Remember Me™
Moving the reset button forward may prevent access from the
exterior of the vehicle, but it then fails to get the operator
to the rearmost area of the vehicle for a proper occupant
inspection thus defeating the purpose of the rear mounted reset
button. Again, by utilizing a system of 2 strategically located
reset buttons, Remember Me™ gets the operator to the rearmost
area of the vehicle for a proper occupant inspection and does
not allow reset from any exterior point.
Other systems
A single press of the reset button deactivates (resets) the
system.
Remember Me™
This single press could be easily duplicated by anyone in
the vehicle including a child. The designers of Remember Me™
have developed a unique reset sequence that requires an able
adult to perform. Each of the two reset buttons utilizes two
smaller buttons side by side (see photos elsewhere on this site)
thus requiring two fingers on the same hand to properly
activate. These two dual reset buttons are located
approximately 50 inches apart requiring an adult arm span to
reach both simultaneously. Using two fingers on each hand,
these 4 individual buttons must be pressed 3 times
simultaneously within a 3 second period in order to perform a
reset of the Remember Me™ system. The motions required are
quite simple to perform, seamlessly integrate with a proper
vehicle occupant inspection and only takes 2 to 3 seconds once
the operator has reached the rear of the interior of the
vehicle. The possibility of anyone other than a properly
informed operator resetting the system is highly unlikely.
Other systems
Jamming the reset button permanently deactivates the system.
Remember Me™
The uniquely designed dual reset buttons are inherently
jam-resistant unlike the simple buttons used by other
manufacturers. However, Remember Me™ also utilizes
jam-resistant microprocessor technology. If a reset button is
effectively jammed (held pressed down by hand or some other
object) the system will not be reset and will require another
attempt using the correct reset sequence.
Other systems
The simple reset buttons
utilized by other manufacturers can be easily bypassed or
tampered with.
Remember Me™
The 2 explanations above
should adequately explain that the uniquely designed reset
system is tamper-resistant, jam-resistant, child-resistant, and
requires an adult operator to activate from a rearward position
of the vehicle interior.
Other
systems
Some other systems use
standard or sub-standard, non-commercial quality reset
switches.
Remember Me™
Recognizing
that the reset switch is a very critical element in the
operation and performance of the system, Remember Me™ developed
a proprietary switch design that is capable of over a million
operations. These components are housed in a custom designed
and tamper resistant housing to provide decades of service in
the field. |
What is an ‘Alert’
state?
‘Alert’ state is simply the name used by Remember Me™ to describe that
the system has been triggered. If the system loading / unloading timers
are allowed to expire, Remember Me™ will activate the hazard lights, an
interior strobe light, and the horn to bring attention to a vehicle that
was not properly inspected and reset.
What is ‘Safer
Loading Zone’?
Remember Me™ not only recognizes the need for operator diligence with
regards to vehicle inspection, but also serves to increase the overall
safety of daycare transport operation. ‘Safer Loading Zone’ (unique to
the Remember Me™ system) activates the vehicle hazard lights when any
door is opened, while the vehicle is in operation. This alerts other
motorists that the vehicle is stopped and conducting a loading /
unloading operation. When the last door is closed and the vehicle
begins to pull away,
the hazard lights
flash for an additional 10 seconds,
raising visibility during critical traffic re-entry
maneuvers. The hazard lights are specifically utilized so that ‘Safer
Loading Zone’ gets attention in day or nighttime hours.
What keeps an operator from resetting the system before completing
the unloading operation?
Unfortunately, with most other manufacturers’ systems, the answer to
this question is…nothing. But Remember Me™ has its own answer to
this question. Generally, with other systems, when the vehicle ignition
is turned ‘Off’, a beeping tone or a recorded voice is used to prompt
the operator to check the vehicle and reset the system. Ideally, the
unloading operation should be completed before the vehicle
occupant inspection and system reset is performed. However, some
operators may find it to “their convenience” to reset the system before
or during the unloading process, thus defeating the true purpose of the
system; getting the operator to the rear of the vehicle after the
unloading process is complete for a proper vehicle occupant inspection.
Remember Me™’s answer to this question? After the Remember Me™ system
is reset, the operator has 30 seconds to exit and properly secure the
vehicle. If a door remains open after this 30 second period, the system
will reactivate and require another trip to the back of the vehicle.
This assures that the proper sequence is followed and the last thing the
operator does is his or her vehicle occupant inspection and system
reset.
How can I see a video demonstration of Remember Me™?
The
Remember Me™ demonstration video can be downloaded from this site or a
copy can be mailed to you on CD for viewing on your computer monitor.
Who will install Remember Me™ on my transport vehicles?
A
network of professional automotive electronics installers has been set
up across the state of Tennessee for your convenience. These installers
have been chosen for their years of experience, expertise, and customer
service. Please contact us at 1-800-395-3957 for an installer near you.
How much does Remember Me™ cost?
Remember Me™ is sold with professional installation for
$450*
Remember
Me™
1-800-395-3957
* 15 passenger van price - Add $50 for "mini bus"
installation - Full size bus price quoted upon request.
All installation prices
assume door pin control is present and all electrical systems are
functional. |
