A personal emergency communication system includes a user-carried portable
communication unit having a single button, which when depressed by the
user, wirelessly sends a call request signal to a base unit. The base
unit initiates a telephone call through a dial-up network to an emergency
response center and places an operator at the emergency center in
wireless voice communication with the portable unit when the call is
connected. A speech synthesizer operating in combination with automated
voice messages stored in the base unit are used to advise the user of the
status of the call, and to provide the user with verbal confirmation that
functional systems of the base unit are operating properly.