There are moments when what you’ve built meets real life.
And then there are moments when real life quietly tells you what’s still missing.
Last night was one of those moments for me.
When It Becomes Personal
For the last few years, we at DrRing have been working on solving a very specific problem—what happens in those critical minutes during a medical emergency.
We’ve worked endlessly resolving:
- Device connectivity
- Long range to work within the house or outside even
- Response time
- Access to care
- The gap between an incident and actual medical attention
- Affordability and Ease of use
Every thing is working fine and as per plan
Until suddenly, it wasn’t.
A sudden spell of dizziness.
A few seconds where I completely lost balance.
I couldn’t stand. Couldn’t think clearly.
And just like that, the problem we had been working on… became my own.
The Night Everything Changed
It was around 10 PM. I was having dinner when it hit me.
Out of nowhere, a strong wave of dizziness. The room started spinning—proper spinning, not just lightheadedness. It lasted maybe 30 seconds, but it felt much longer.
In that moment:
- I couldn’t get up
- I wasn’t sure what was happening
- And I realised how quickly things can go out of control
You always think you’ll handle a situation. But when it actually happens, it’s different.
But the DrRing System Worked…
I was wearing my DrRing device. I pressed the SOS button.
Things started moving:
- My family got alerted
- Calls started happening
- I was able to reach people
Eventually, I got to a hospital. I was treated. I came back home safe.
So yes….the system worked.
However pressing that button and reaching the hospital, there was still a lot of manual effort involved.
- Calling different family members
- Deciding which hospital to go to
- Booking transport
- Explaining everything again at the hospital
Nothing failed. But it can get better.
The Thought That Stayed With Me
Since then, one thought has been stuck in my head:
I wish I was within a 10-kilometre range of ISIC Multispeciality Hospital – The Secure Zone.
Because I know, very clearly, that the experience would have been completely different. This secure zone is what we are building – bit by bit in collaboration with ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.
What Would Have Been Different?
1. One Button Should Mean One Response
Right now, pressing the button starts a chain of actions.
But in a fully integrated system, it should be simpler:
- The alert goes directly to a connected medical team
- Initial triage starts immediately
- The hospital is already in the loop
No back-and-forth. No delay.
2. No Confusion, No Group Decision-Making
In my case, family members were trying to help—but naturally, there were questions:
- Which hospital?
- Who is closest?
- Should we call an ambulance or take a cab?
All valid questions. But in an emergency, even small delays matter.
In a connected ecosystem, these decisions are already taken care of.
3. Arriving vs Being Expected
When I reached the hospital, the doctors did a good job.
But I still had to explain everything from scratch:
- What happened
- When it started
- What I was feeling
Now imagine the alternative:
- The hospital already knows your case
- They are expecting you
- They are prepared before you arrive
That changes the entire experience.
4. Time Isn’t Just Time
We often say “every minute counts,” but you only understand it when you’re in that situation.
Time saved is:
- Less anxiety
- Faster decisions
- Better outcomes
And maybe most importantly, less burden on the patient and family.
The Founder’s Realisation
As founders, we usually look at:
- Growth
- Adoption
- Numbers
But there’s a much simpler test:
Would I trust this system in my own emergency?
Last night, I got that answer.
And I realised something clearly—
We need to keep on working and making the system better and better….the device and the ecosystem around it.
The 10-Kilometre Truth
Emergency care is local. Very local.
You can build great technology. You can design a solid device.
And it should be backed by:
- A connected response system
- A nearby hospital
- Real-time coordination
That 10-kilometre radius is not just distance.
It is the difference between:
- Informing vs responding
- Reaching vs being received
- Managing vs being managed
A Simple Message
If there’s one takeaway from my experience, it’s this:
Having a device is critical.
Having contacts is critical.
But wearing the device, knowing how to use it in an emergency, building your safety network is also very important:
- How fast help actually reaches you
- How coordinated the response is
- And how little you have to think when you’re not in a position to think
Closing Thought
Last night wasn’t just a health scare.
It was a reality check.
What we are building is meaningful.
And it also showed me where the real power lies:
When everything is connected…Device, People, Family, Care Providers. When everything just works.
And honestly…
I just wish I had been within that 10-kilometre zone.
Because then, it would have been just one thing:
A button press—and everything else taken care of.
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