A system of an alert puck, a mobile communication device, and an alert server for facilitating a VOIP session with the mobile communication device responsive to an emergency event triggered by the alert puck. The alert puck comprises a housing enclosing a sealed volume, a power supply and control circuitry that includes a personal area network (PAN) interface. The mobile communication device comprises an operating system, an alert application executing upon the operating system, and a wireless transceiver. The alert server contacts a set of one or more previously defined contact devices, conveys an emergency message, and facilitates the VOIP session with the alert application, when a button is pressed on the alert puck.