A system includes a server, a local base station including first and second wireless transceivers, the first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the server over an external network, and a personal monitoring device adjacent the user. The personal monitoring device includes a local wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the second wireless transceiver of the local base station, sensors configured to monitor corresponding different characteristics of the user, each different characteristic having a desired range, and a controller coupled to the local wireless transceiver and the sensors. The controller is configured to send an alert to the local base station when a different characteristic exceeds a respective desired range.