Chongqing - A simple red cord became a lifeline for an elderly woman living alone in Chongqing’s Jiulongwan Community, showing how a small community innovation can make a big difference in people’s lives.
One-click alerts: getting help faster
A volunteer helps an elderly resident use a red-cord emergency alert device in Chongqing’s Jiulongwan Community, where the system provides quick assistance for seniors living alone. (Photo/China Telecom Chongqing Branch)
At Auntie Fan’s home, a red cord hangs beside her bed, connected to a small white alert device. The 66-year-old was sitting on her sofa when she suddenly suffered severe dizziness and numbness in her left hand. Unable to call for help as she began losing consciousness, she pulled the cord, triggering an emergency alert.
A warning immediately sounded on community grid worker Tong Renzhen's smartphone. As a frontline community worker responsible for coordinating local services and assisting residents, Tong received an alert showing Fan’s name and location.
"As soon as I received the alert, I rushed to Auntie Fan's home while contacting her sister and Chongqing No. 13 People’s Hospital," Tong recalled.
With help from neighbors, they acted quickly, and Fan was soon taken to the emergency room. She received emergency treatment, including thrombolysis, and was later brought out of danger.
The emergency call device was designed specifically for older residents. In an emergency, they can press a button, pull a wrist strap, or even call out. The system sends the alert to family members and community grid workers at the same time.
If neither the emergency contacts nor the grid workers respond, the system automatically transfers the call to a 24/7 customer service center, which can also help contact emergency services.
Jiulongwan Community has so far installed the alert system in 20 households needing additional care. It has responded to more than 20 calls and alerts, including three emergencies, all of which were handled effectively. The system has helped residents deal with incidents ranging from falls to sudden illnesses, including those occurring late at night.
The next step is to make the system more proactive by detecting prolonged inactivity among elderly residents and automatically alerting community workers, allowing them to check on residents before problems arise. The goal is to move beyond responding to emergencies after they happen and provide earlier intervention and more proactive care.
Bringing services to residents' doorsteps
The Tianyi Smart Community digital management platform operates in real time at Jiulongwan Community in Huangjueping Subdistrict, Chongqing. (Photo/China Telecom Chongqing Branch)
A "15-minute community life circle" is a neighborhood service model designed to bring essential services closer to residents, both physically and digitally.
Jiulongwan Community previously faced a familiar challenge: services and local resources were scattered, and residents lacked a single platform to access them.
China Telecom Chongqing Branch has since developed a dedicated community service account covering five key areas: housing, education, elderly care, employment and leisure.
Through the platform, residents can access property and community services, handle daily tasks, participate in community activities and enjoy discounts from nearby businesses.
They can also connect with online customer support through a feature called “Xiaolin Is Here to Help.” For residents who are less familiar with smartphones, community workers have provided one-on-one, door-to-door guidance to help them register and use the platform.
The initiative goes beyond digital services and into residents’ everyday lives. Staff members visit homes to inspect low-voltage wiring for free and help organize tangled cables and electrical equipment, addressing potential fire risks caused by aging wires and unsafe setups. For many residents, the service is a small but practical way of making their homes safer.
From wartime radio to a modern safety net
The exhibition hall at the former Chongqing Radio Telephone Station displays wartime communications equipment and historical materials in Shapingba District, Chongqing. (Photo/China Telecom Chongqing Branch)
At the former site of Chongqing Radio Telephone Station in Tianxingqiao Subdistrict, Shapingba District, a wartime communications facility offers a glimpse into the long history of using communication systems for public safety.
Built between 1937 and 1940, the site housed communications equipment inside mountain tunnels during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The system was used to transmit air-raid warnings and wartime information, showing how communication networks played a vital role in protecting communities even decades ago.
In 2019, the site was included on a national list of industrial cultural heritage sites operated by centrally administered state-owned enterprises in the information and communications sector. It is now maintained by local communications authorities.
The war is long over, but communication systems continue to play a role in protecting communities. Today, AI-powered alerts, smart monitoring, satellite communications, and drones are increasingly being used in more ordinary settings. Behind the red cord beside an elderly resident's bed and the service account on a resident's smartphone are technologies designed to connect people with assistance when they need it.
The technology has changed, but the purpose remains the same: connecting people with the help they need, when they need it.
(Miao Leyan, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)