Shanghai's Civil Affairs Bureau is asking local residents to donate their old mobile phones so they can be turned into emergency first-aid alerts for the elderly.

The request is part of a project called "emergency nurse" launched by the Shanghai Research Center on Aging and the Sunshine Service Center for the Aged, a local private company.

The old phones can be refitted with an emergency button to contact the Sunshine Center if an elderly owner has an accident, such as someone who has fallen and can't get up.

The central supervision room can locate the owner according to the information received and call hospitals as well as contacting the senior's family members, officials said.

The alerts will also be able to function as ordinary cell phones.

China unicom, the project's technical supporter, says it is considering offering discounts on phone charges to users of the device.

The project is scheduled to be launched early next year.

The Sunshine Center declined to disclose how many phones it has received so far.

Donors can take their old phones to the center at 201 Tianshanzhi Road or call 6259-0780.

"The emergency nurse is specially designed to aid local empty nesters, as well as finding a solution to the increasing number of obsolete cell phones in the city," said Sun Pengbiao, vice director of the center.

Currently, more than 1,000 old cell phones are abandoned in the city every day. Local youngsters pick up a new cell phone every 18 months on average, according to the Shanghai Morning Post.

"Since old phones are often left idle at home, I would be glad to donate my old phone and do something for the seniors," said Yu Jia, a local office worker.

(eastday.com December 10, 2003)