A system for monitoring characteristics of a subject including a sensor unit including an upper plate, a lower plate, a transducer sensor and an abutting element, which is configured for abutting a surface of the transducer surface, correspondently to forces applied upon the upper plate by the subject and a control unit, for identifying breathing related alarm situations using the sensor unit signals. The system optionally also includes remote devices allowing multidirectional communication between the control unit and each respective remote device and between the remote devices and optionally also enable turning one of these remote devices into a relay station for expanding communication range. The system optionally also includes a mechanical adjustment mechanism connected to the abutting element, for enabling a user to adjust sensitivity of the transducer sensor by mechanically adjusting location of the abutting element in relation to an effective area of the transducer sensor.