Apple Watch Fall Detection Features Save Two Lives

[MacRumors]

The Apple Watch's health features are making headlines this month, and have been credited with saving at least two lives. Fall Detection came in handy in two emergency situations in Minnesota and Ohio.

In Minnesota, Apple Watch user Michael Brodkorb was hit by a vehicle that then fled the scene. His Apple Watch detected the impact using Fall Detection and dialed 911 after he was unable to respond. "I was just shocked," he said. "I mean, just the sheer force of what it's like to get hit by a vehicle."

Along with calling 911, the Fall Detection feature alerted his wife and children inside the house, so he was able to get immediate help. He ended up with injuries to his ribs and tailbone. "It absolutely is a life-saving tool," Brodkorb said. Police did find the driver, a 17-year-old boy, but it is not yet clear if he will be charged.

During his recovery, Brodkorb sent an email to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who wished him a speedy recovery.

In Cincinnati, 83-year-old William Fryer was walking on the Ohio River Trail when his knees gave out. No one was around, but his Apple Watch detected the fall, called emergency services, and alerted his daughter.

Cincinnati police were able to locate him and paramedics transported him to the hospital. X-rays ultimately showed that he had a large blood clot that caused his fall, but the blood clot symptoms had been atypical as they had not been noticed. Fryer had the clot removed, and said that he was grateful his Apple Watch had been able to summon help.

The Fall Detection feature on the Apple Watch can be enabled by opening up the Apple Watch iPhone app, going to Emergency SOS, and toggling on the Fall Detection option. Fall Detection is enabled by default for Apple Watch owners over 55, but younger Apple Watch users can also turn it on.

Article Link: Apple Watch Fall Detection Features Save Two Lives

 

[ct2k7]

I wonder if there are other competitor watches which can do this or just Apple Watch? Pretty amazing tech either way that's literally a life-saver!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

It's April 24, 2015, and Apple just released the Apple Watch (1st Generation)

Fast forward to today, 2023 - Who would have ever thought Apple Watch would be saving human lives? 😳

 

[Feek]

It detected when I fell once. I managed to cancel it because I thought I was OK.

I wasn't OK, I was absolutely knackered. I couldn't get up. I'd smashed my shoulder and ended up laying at the side of the road waiting for someone to stop and help.

If you don't have fall detection enabled, please do so. It's really important.

This is how my shoulder is now (x-ray in spoiler tags).

Spoiler

If you ever fall and it goes off, properly evaluate yourself before cancelling it.

 

[jz0309]

One of the lesser talked about features that make the AW so cool, had it going off twice when I crashed while mountain biking…

 

[spazzcat]

Unfortunately, I took up boxing and had to turn this feature off.

Edit: I guess it wasn't clear, but when you punch stuff, it will set off this detection and start to call 911, which can be bad when you have your hands and wrist wrapped with gloves on.

 

[midkay]

Brilliant work by Apple on this and Crash Detection. The developers of these features should be very proud.

 

[nathan_reilly]

Its funny to see the nature of the comments on this article vs the articles that talk about distracted and strained EMS resources due to spurious fall alerts! Glad it's saving some people though.

 

[vegetassj4]

This guy Apple Watches. Look at how fast the EMS vehicle arrived.

 

[deebinem]

It detected when I fell once. I managed to cancel it because I thought I was OK.

I wasn't OK, I was absolutely knackered. I couldn't get up. I'd smashed my shoulder and ended up laying at the side of the road waiting for someone to stop and help.

Holy Moly! Were you riding a motorcycle by chance?

I had my share of spills riding and thankfully never had to get an x-ray of that calibre. 😬

 

[deebinem]

Unfortunately I took up boxing, so I had to turn this feature off.

Wait, its unfortunate that you took up boxing or unfortunate that you had to turn this off? 😉

 

[spazzcat]

Wait, its unfortunate that you took up boxing or unfortunate that you had to turn this off? 😉

I had to turn it off, lol Boxing will set it off every time you throw a punch.

Edit: Also, boxing is an incredible stress reliever.

 

[Wildkraut]

Don't AirBags deserves more attention than Apple Watches?!
Or Defibrillators!

 

[segfaultdotorg]

I don't dispute that the fall detection on the iWatch has the potential to save lives, but do we actually know that both of these people would have died were it not for the fall detection? The headline seems misleading.

 

[crsh1976]

This is great, unfortunately it does not perform as well as showcased - false negatives or just plain misses are far too common for this to be optimal.

 

[Candy Apple+ Nutz]

What a great feature and it will continue to save lives. Good looks, Apple!

In related news: I fell off the weed wagon and it did nothing. Nice to know it can tell the difference of a real emergency and me relaxing.

 

[Expos of 1969]

I don't dispute that the fall detection on the iWatch has the potential to save lives, but do we actually know that both of these people would have died were it not for the fall detection? The headline seems misleading.

Total BS headlines. But....the focus is on the Kingdom of Cook so totally expected.

 

[0815]

It detected when I fell once. I managed to cancel it because I thought I was OK.

I wasn't OK, I was absolutely knackered. I couldn't get up. I'd smashed my shoulder and ended up laying at the side of the road waiting for someone to stop and help.

If you don't have fall detection enabled, please do so. It's really important.

This is how my shoulder is now (x-ray in spoiler tags).

Spoiler

If you ever fall and it goes off, properly evaluate yourself before cancelling it.

A similar thing happened to me ... I fell while walking the dog, realized that my watch wanted to call 911, and manged to cancel it. However, I was not ok, right after canceling, I passed out on the side of the street until I was found by a neighbor a bit later. I knew I was a bit dizzy, but I thought I was fine ... should have listened to the watch. Had a badly broken nose, so not too crazy, but still neighbor called 911, and I spend the night in the hospital, where they fixed me until I could have surgery.

 

[Choco Taco]

It's April 24, 2015, and Apple just released the Apple Watch (1st Generation)

Fast forward to today, 2023 - Who would have ever thought Apple Watch would be saving human lives? 😳

Yes, it's nice to see tech like this making an actual difference.

It detected when I fell once. I managed to cancel it because I thought I was OK.

I wasn't OK, I was absolutely knackered. I couldn't get up. I'd smashed my shoulder and ended up laying at the side of the road waiting for someone to stop and help.

If you don't have fall detection enabled, please do so. It's really important.

This is how my shoulder is now (x-ray in spoiler tags).

Spoiler

If you ever fall and it goes off, properly evaluate yourself before cancelling it.

I'm glad you're okay. That's terrifying.

 

[surfzen21]

Ive been skateboarding with it on and taken some spills. So far it hasn't falsely detected my falls as actual falls. Maybe its cause I have the workout app in use or maybe my falls weren't too bad.

 

[Choco Taco]

Ive been skateboarding with it on and taken some spills. So far it hasn't falsely detected my falls as actual falls. Maybe its cause I have the workout app in use or maybe my falls weren't too bad.

You just need to fall in a more horrific manner. Problem solved!









Don't do that.

 

[l3xh2k]

I was riding my bike (down a hill, so quite fast) on a Montreal street (which are not known for being smooth). I started hearing this alarm sound that I had never heard before. For a couple of blocks, I ignored it until I realized the sound was "following me". I eventually stopped and figured out the source and cancelled the alarm, in a bit of a panic... I don't know how long the watch would have waited to call, or indeed if it was waiting at all since I was travelling north of 35km/h the whole time.

Another PSA for people that like riding bikes -- don't have your phone in your jersey pocket with the screen on your sweaty back. I have literally butt dialed family members while on rides on two separate occasions.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

What a great feature and it will continue to save lives. Good looks, Apple!

In related news: I fell off the weed wagon and it did nothing. Nice to know it can tell the difference of a real emergency and me relaxing.

Curious to know. Will Crash Detection detect if you fall off from a hammock 🏖️ chilling by the beach?

 

[Choco Taco]

Curious to know. Will Crash Detection detect if you fall off from a hammock 🏖️?

Try it and let us know how it goes!

Spoiler

 

[Wildkraut]

Curious to know. Will Crash Detection detect if you fall off from a hammock 🏖️?

That's Apple face-plant detection.