A cable pull switch includes a polychotomous sensor configured to provide a reading of at least one of a plurality of values, the reading corresponding to a tension on a pull cable or a linear displacement of an end of a pull cable. A processor coupled to the polychotomous cable pull sensor configured to determine a rate of change of the value of the reading from the sensor and determine an occurrence of a cable pull event, the determination based on the determined rate of change of the value, and determine whether the rate of change of the value of an electrical resistance through the polychotomous cable pull sensor is below a threshold rate of change value, and adjust an upper pull threshold value to a new upper pull threshold value that is based on a present reading of the value of the electrical resistance through the strain gauge.