I unfortunately managed to test my Watch's (series 6 GPS, watchOS 9) fall detection yesterday, taking a hard fall (no serious injury, thankfully) in a parking garage. The feature seemed to work perfectly, alerting me of the detection and asking if I needed to call for assistance until I responded to its prompts.
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Fall Detection Works
- Thread starter Lord Hamsa
- Start date
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I have hit my watch or slammed my fist on something and had mine go off multiple time. I hope it goes off when I need it!
Good news, will be interesting hearing about the first car crash detection instances.
I'll let someone else volunteer to test that out.
Well I’ve taken three hard fall in the last 3 months. Two because my beloved rescue dog took off like a rocket, and one on a crowded, stone staircase in Scotland. Each time the countdown for 911 started. Of course in the U.K. The emergency number is not 911.
So, I can attest the my cellular Apple Watch 7’s fall detection works. I usually have my iPhone on my person, but I think the cellular connected watch is well worth it!
So, I can attest the my cellular Apple Watch 7’s fall detection works. I usually have my iPhone on my person, but I think the cellular connected watch is well worth it!
I did have an active cell phone plan while I was visiting the U.K. from the USA. I was at Sterling Castle. The watch was trying to call 911 I think. I stopped the process as I had 21 people in my party, plus the wonderful castle staff came running! I was surrounded in seconds. How embarrassing!!!
I do wonder if there was something that I should have done to set up local, emergency help in the U.K. Well I will certainly try to find out should I go overseas again.
Worked for me with the Apple Watch SE. Slipped on some steps near the bottom of stairs.
No injury and worked like a charm. GPS version no cellular.
No injury and worked like a charm. GPS version no cellular.
Works for me. While on holiday last week, I tripped and fell, banging my head on a metal sign post. There was blood but I'm fine. I was impressed how my Apple Watch detected my fall and noticed that I was moving but still asked if I needed the emergency services or my emergency contacts calling.
My S6 failed to detect a slip fall I had 2 weeks ago down a walk ramp. I bruised my ribs and forearm without a peep from my watch. I only had the watch on, not my iPhone in my pocket. I wonder if related? After all was settled down I double checked and it was enabled and always on. I have an Ultra now so I hope, but hope to not try out, if it works better now with this one.
So what happened when it called 911? Did it dial 911 and then transfer to your country emergency number or how does that work?
My fall started a countdown to call 911, and my watched vibrated on my wrist. I stopped the countdown to the emergency call. So I do not know if it would have worked. My iPhone was set up for roaming i’n the UK. My watch was not, although it has cellular.
That’s interesting. Thanks. I wonder if it would be smart enough to forward. I wonder if 112 is still GSM standard for European Emergency calls regardless of country.
My sister and sister-in-law each bought these for my BIL and brother, respectively, for this very reason. My sister’s husband has a neurological issue that causes dizziness, and he has fallen a couple times out on their property. My brother has congestive heart failure, and is pretty much always at risk.
They both figure it also gives them a way to use Siri to call them as well, if they are far from the house where they wouldn’t be seen (if of course they weren’t severely injured).
They both figure it also gives them a way to use Siri to call them as well, if they are far from the house where they wouldn’t be seen (if of course they weren’t severely injured).
Mine went off just last week for the first time when I fell playing pickle ball I whacked onto the ground pretty hard and it was kind of exciting to see it work. Of course then there was the scramble to make sure I hit the right button to turn it off so that no one got contacted
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I guess fall detection only works if you have a data plan or are carrying your phone (if you don't have a data plan) ?
As an example, last week, I was out doing a running workout with my S7 watch (it has no data plan). I don't carry my iPhone when out running as my watch still tracks my route so no need to carry the phone also.
During the run, I stumbled over a short small tree stump, which sent me flying to the ground hands out first, however, the momentum from the fall sent me into a sideways roll and I managed to roll through it and then got back up and carried on running.
There were no notifications from the watch about a possible fall - perhaps because my movement carried on after the fall (not sure?!)....
🤔
As an example, last week, I was out doing a running workout with my S7 watch (it has no data plan). I don't carry my iPhone when out running as my watch still tracks my route so no need to carry the phone also.
During the run, I stumbled over a short small tree stump, which sent me flying to the ground hands out first, however, the momentum from the fall sent me into a sideways roll and I managed to roll through it and then got back up and carried on running.
There were no notifications from the watch about a possible fall - perhaps because my movement carried on after the fall (not sure?!)....
🤔
I don't know this is the first time mine has gone off and I have tripped and stumbled down before without anything happening. The only difference in my fall when the detection went off and when it didn't was that when I fell forward and used my hands to break the fall it didn't go off but when I fell backwards /landed on my side it did
Perhaps it only detects a fall if you fall sideways or backwards then, as my fall was forwards, with hands out in front, and it didn't go off.
Well without data some of the functions don’t work. It wouldn’t really make sense for fall detection to work without a data connection because the purpose of it is not to alert you of the fall because you know you fell but to call for help. Without any kind of cellular or data connection it can’t do that.
If you go without your phone quite a bit, it might make sense for you to get cellular on your Apple Watch or buy a cellular Apple Watch if you don’t have that version. You never know when an emergency happens and you need to call for help.
A friend of mine has an apple watch 4 wifi only and it goes off almost everytime she walks her two large dogs -either from them pulling or her waving her arms around. She probably does have the phone in her pocket. We will be walking along and her watch will ask if she fell even though nothing was really going on. And mine has only gone off that one time. I think it is good to have, but I wouldn't depend on it a lot -it seems like some of the watches are more sensitive than others..
In the USA, any digital cell phone is capable of calling 911 without an active cellular plan, as long as it is in range of a compatible cellular network. This includes Apple Watches with cellular capabilities. It is required by federal law.
Unfortunately it also results in lots of nuisance calls to emergency services caused by stupid parents giving old phones to their children as toys.
www.911.gov
Unfortunately it also results in lots of nuisance calls to emergency services caused by stupid parents giving old phones to their children as toys.
FAQ About Calling 911
Find answers to some of the most common questions Americans have about calling 911, teaching children to call 9-1-1, becoming a telecommunicator and more.
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