Apple Watch's Fall Detection Feature Saves 71-Year-Old Woman's Life
The Apple Watch's fall detection feature has been credited with saving multiple lives over the years, and now yet another woman is crediting the feature with saving her life. Introduced with the Apple Watch Series 4, fall detection uses the device's built-in sensors to detect a hard fall and can auto-dial emergency services if needed. The feature is turned off by default for people aged 55 and below, while it is switched on for people over 55. Users, however, can turn it off manually if they want.
Ever since its introduction in 2015, the Apple Watch has remained one of the best-selling wearables in the world. It has seen multiple iterations over the years, with the latest generation just released late last year. Launched in October 2021, the Apple Watch Series 7 comes with all the cool features of the earlier generations, including the fall detection feature mentioned above. It also includes the ECG feature that was also introduced initially with the Apple Watch Series 4.
According to a report by WFTS, 71-year-old Raylene Hackenwerth of Saint Petersburg, Florida, is crediting the Apple Watch for saving her life. The watch reportedly auto-dialed 911 when its fall detection feature detected that she took a hard fall. The watch, which was a Christmas gift from her son, also automatically sent her geolocation to the 911 dispatcher, helping the paramedics reach her in time. Hackenwerth, who was nearly unconscious after her fall, was taken to the hospital, where doctors detected a tumor in her lungs. The tumor turned out to be cancerous, and she is now awaiting treatment.
Hackenwerth believes that the Apple Watch helped with her cancer detection. According to her, had it not been for the fall detection feature, she might not have been diagnosed in time, "and maybe by the time it had got found in the future, it would be too late." The timely detection of the tumor will hopefully allow doctors to pursue curative treatment.
Interestingly, neither Raylene nor her son Jason had any idea that the Apple Watch even had the fall-detection feature. Apparently, Jason had only given the watch to his mom so that she could track her workouts. Now, however, he's happy that it helped save her life. Talking to WFTS, Jason said he couldn't be happier that he gifted the Apple Watch to his mother for Christmas. "It never occurred to me that it would save her life," he said. Raylene was pretty chuffed with her gift as well, saying, "it was one of the best Christmas presents I could've gotten."
Source: WFTS