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It can be fundamental for those who are vulnerable and older to have the most effective alert system with fall detection on smart wearables. In reality, from little ones figuring out how to walk to older individuals meeting with a home accident, anybody is likely to suffer a fall.
Statistically, every year thousands of people kick the bucket from falls all around the world. Among such cases, more than eighty percents are in middle- and low-income nations. Grown-ups at sixty years old suffer the highest amount of deadly falls. Millions of falls that are sufficiently serious to need medical consideration happen every year.
For the person living alone, it can be particularly threatening to have a fall. And a suitable smart wristwatch with fall detection boasts the ability to notify their relatives, neighbors, and the likes of them in case the wearer has fallen. They can instantly look for medical support if needed.
So the question now is, what smartwatches have fall detection? Here, we are addressing the most excellent models capable of alerting somebody if you or another person suffer a fall. That way, they can receive necessary assistance quickly.
Wait but why are smartwatches favorable as a medical alert?
Their preferable advantages
There are a few reasons why it is particularly fascinating to have a smart wristwatch as the medial alert.
1. Look matters
In the first place, medical alerts are bulky, not good-looking, and stigmatizing. That makes a lot of older grown-ups who might reap benefits from using one dislike and refuse to wear or simply not choose to have them. And according to many folks, just twenty percent of medical alert owners seriously wear them routinely.
Meanwhile, how about a sleek smart wrist-worn timepiece that does different things you legit need and functions as a medical alert as well? Folks may wear it regularly compared to a standalone medical gadget.
2. Compactness and functionalities: The best of both worlds
Next up, the competition for ‘body space saving’ and efficiency is ever-increasing among many items. Medical alerts are merely one of those.
For instance, a recent couple of years have witnessed the buyer appropriation of fitness trackers – say the Fitbit. Similar to other categories of people, a lot of older grown-ups become charmed by the possibility that fitness monitors may assist with encouraging improved exercise habits.
Furthermore, smart wristwatches stand out for other reasons as well. They work to track an assortment of health metrics such as the electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart rate. Better yet, they boast the offer of many helpful applications. What’s more, it is inappropriate to ignore the entire enticement of “the most advanced, all-important, customer device”.
And not to mention, smartwatches come with an essential feature that pretty many grown-ups like. It is the functionality of informing them about the time.
All in all, combining various items into one compact item makes buckling on many gadgets every morning no longer necessary.
Desired features
Now on to the question: What precisely should this item do? Right below is a rundown of wanted attributes and highlights for a medical alert smart wristwatch.
- be good at telling the time;
- be simple to use;
- works impeccably as a medical alert – for example, detecting a fall;
- appears alluring, and specifically looks like stuff older people would be glad to put on their wrist as opposed to something that implies their old age and frailty.
Further, as far as we know, a lot of people (not all) will find a few other attributes and highlights are helpful. These include:
- fitness monitoring attributes, for example, tracking your steps;
- messaging
- weather;
- locating functionality (in other words, clue others in where you are, assuming you want them to);
- many other ‘timepiece’ attributes such as reminders, alarms, and times;
- different cell phone-type attributes, for instance, being able to get taxis, Uber, and the likes of them, and allowing you to speak with others – say Facetime, and phone calls.
Also, obviously, price matters
Fall detection alert smart wristwatches: How do they work?
Before we move to the main part of what smartwatches have fall detection, it is significant to find out how they work.
Again, fall detection is one of these wearables’ advanced attributes. They detect falls by leveraging the acceleration sensing system outfitted with the smartwatch.
Let’s take Apple Watch 4 as an example. As an unexpected fall gets identified, it will ‘hit’ you gently on your wrist, make an alarm sound, as well deliver an alert. You can choose to reach out to emergency services. Otherwise, reject the alarm by selecting “I’m okay.”
- GPS
- Over 30% larger display and 50% louder speaker
- Electrical and optical heart sensors
- Digital Crown with haptic feedback
- 50% louder speaker
This wear device will resort to the automated way (i.e., make the call on its own) in case it distinguishes that you have indeed been motionless for a little while. When finishing the call, the wearable will send a message, including your GPS location, to your emergency contacts. One thing to note is, as for fall detection, various makes and product units likely work varyingly.
What smartwatches have fall detection?
In this part, we are putting together the list of smartwatches with the ability to detect a fall. It should assist you with settling on the best, most informed choice.
1. Apple Watch: With fall detection or not?
Smartwatches from the tech giant Apple are among the absolute first smart timepiece devices that featured fall detection. They depend on a high-level algorithm and various sensors to accurately identify the fall.
Speaking of this attribute in Apple models, not every one of them boasts the presence of it, and hands down the most recent product units come with the feature. They are:
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch: With or without?
Samsung Galaxy Watch line is among the most preferable smart wristwatch ranges, and the brand has brought various innovative attributes to the table to make this line alluring for the wearers.
Notwithstanding, similar to Apple Watch, the ability to detect falls is not accessible in all of the company’s Galaxy Watches.
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3 do stand out with this feature. They work quite like the Apple Watch’s fall detection. When it recognizes the fall, this device will begin the countdown of one minute. In case you do not manage to respond within that time, the smartwatch will send the SOS Call, helping you receive assistance on time.
3. Fitbit: Whether or not it can detect falls?
One of the most reliable names in the smart wearable field, Fitbit has introduced an assortment of state-of-the-art smart wristwatches outfitted with favorite attributes and highlights. These include Pulse oximetry, skin temperature tracking, and ECG.
Nonetheless, the fall detection attribute is not available here.
We likewise reached the company’s customer support for a confirmation on the grounds that it is a let-down to be unable to find this feature in such high-level Fitbit models as the Fitbit Sense. As confirmed by their customer support, none of the Fitbit smart timepieces comes with the ability to identify falls.
Still, the chance is, the brand will add this attribute in their product units in times to come. Wonder why? Considering that Fitbit’s best-in-class wear devices such as the Fitbit Ionic, the Versa range, the Sense boast the inclusion of every one of the essential sensors potentially leveraged to distinguish fall.
4. Garmin: What smartwatches have fall detection?
Smart wrist-based wearables made by Garmin are popular for their top-notch hardware and innovative attributes and highlights. There is nothing unexpected that some Garmin models feature fall detection. One thing to note: The brand does not refer to it as ‘fall detection’ but ‘incident detection.’
How their incident detection works is quite like other smart wristwatches’ fall detection. Since the wearable distinguishes an unexpected impact or deceleration, it will reach out to your emergency contacts by sending them the message which includes your info. Please bear in mind that the smartwatch needs connecting with your cell phone to send the message.
The incident detection feature is accessible on these models:
Garmin MARQ also has this feature.
5. Huawei?
This brand is not yet an established one in the smartwatch industry. While it provides various smartwatch product units with regular smart wristwatch attributes, they are in want of advanced ones like ECG.
And it comes as no surprise that there is not fall detection feature in the company’s wearable models. In this way, assuming you need that attribute on your wear device, go for another firm.
6. What about Xiaomi smartwatches?
Do you know that Amazfit is Xiaomi’s partner firm and delivers wearable tech to this brand?
With regards to Amazfit smart timepieces, according to several unofficial pages, Amazfit smartwatches – for instance, Amazfit Bip S, feature the functionality of detecting falls. Yet, the official website and other legitimate sources have not given any info about this feature’s accessibility in Amazfit.
We likewise reached the company’s Customer Support to receive the confirmation that their smart wristwatches do not come with the attribute.
But on the other hand, as promised by the support staff, he will inform the development team about the suggestion. Then, they may think about adding it to Amazfit models one of these days.
The top picks
What smartwatches have fall detection? As we would like to think, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch are the most excellent in this regard. Since they leverage a huge data collection to precisely identify the fall.
To be more specific, for distinguishing a stand or fall, they take advantage of an in-some-way-or-another comparative ‘swim detection system.” The wearable has an accelerometer in it, being able to identify motion-related changes. Also, the gyroscope is useful for recognizing axial turns.
Thanks to these add-ons, the smartwatch manages to distinguish the user’s stroke. To make certain that the results are at the right time and accurate simultaneously, Apple put together the data from the spontaneous and true-life interaction between the body of human beings and the ground.
The data sample was used to plan the fall detection algorithm. In the fall info set, more than 2000 individuals were chosen from the movement disorders units and people working in Apple. That allowed for the data shaping after thousands of days.
1. Apple Watch Series 5
The product unit is impressive in pretty much anything, from hardware to the assortment of fitness and health-associated apps accessible.
It works to track your heart rate, keep your hearing away from immoderate sounds, monitor the sleep quality, and record an ECG via touch.
Speaking of the fall detection feature, its configuration is not by default. Still, making this system active is far from hard.
What is fantastic about the attribute is, after distinguishing what it regards as being a fall, it will promptly inquire as to whether you dropped the smartwatch, fell, or need emergency support.
As mentioned earlier, the model will await input when identifying movement. Yet in case it recognizes some immobility following 60 seconds, the watch will contact 911 automatically (in America), enabling you to receive help.
Notwithstanding, calling 911 probably might not be a perfect option considering the geographic location. Others, for example, you can depend on an app such as FallCall Lite. It gives the watch user an alarm button that will reach out to a clinical helpline or caregivers defined in advance.
What is more? To help those providing assistance, the brand offers s a Medical ID system. This allows you to input allergies, medical conditions, and so forth. Please keep in mind that having an iPad or iPhone is necessary to get to these data pages.
What you may like:
- Mature platform
- Integrated fall detection
- A lot of applications and health solutions
What you may not like:
- Medical ID accessibility needs iPad or iPhone
- Pricey
- Short battery life implies you are better off charging the watch every day.
2. Apple Watch SE
Want to know more about what smartwatches have fall detection? The Watch SE unit is another best bet. It boasts the entirety of the necessary attributes and highlights from an Apple watch while being well-priced.
Of course, fall detection is available and comparably useful. The lack of ECG and blood oxygen sensing systems is not a major issue for a great many people except if you are seeking an all-inclusive tracking smart wearable. Also, this Apple does not feature the always-on screen, meaning you cannot get the time shown constantly without tapping the screen.
What you may like:
- Awesome value smartwatch
- Responsive and bright touch display
- Impressive fitness and health attributes
- Fall detection aside from wellness and health notifications
What you may not like:
- The always-on display is not available.
- ECG and blood oxygen sensing systems are absent.
- Loading some applications can be slow.
- Short battery life implies you are better off charging the watch every day.
3. SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch Active 2
This model works with just about any cell phone these days. It is worth noting that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is compatible with iPhone and Android phones while only Apple iPhone users can use the Apple Watch.
Also for your information, the product unit runs the operating system Tizen OS that Samsung has developed. Despite its compatibility with iPhone, there are restrictions. You will not have a way to leverage Samsung Health or play back functions.
What is more to note? This Samsung is lightweight, solid with an always-on display. You will get about 48 hours on the battery and the watch needs less charging than the model from Apple.
The model is additionally great at monitoring fitness and health, not only running and the likes of it. How about fall detection capability? When suspecting the watch user has fallen, it manages to send emergency alerts to as many as four contacts suspects.
All in all, this Samsung is a versatile smart wristwatch to get for your Android phone.
What you may like:
- Fantastic quality-price ratio
- Bright always-on display
- Lightweight, comfy, and refined build
- Fall detection
- Extended battery duration
What you may not like:
- Absence of third-party application
- There are usability-related limitations for iPhone owners
Using fall detection on Samsung Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch: Your how-to guide
1. Apple Watch
Before starting, you had better ensure you own an Apple Watch with the ability to detect whether or not you have fallen. Also, make certain you remember to update iOS and watchOS to the most recent version.
How to switch on the fall detection function:
Step 1: Access the Apple Watch app on your iPhone;
Step 2: Hit the My Watch tab;
Step 3: Hit Emergency SOS;
Step 4: Switch on Fall Detection.
For further info about this capability on the wearable from Apple, you may want to visit here.
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch
Before starting, you had better ensure you own a Samsung Galaxy Watch whose is capable of detecting whether you have fallen or not. Also, make certain you remember to keep the watch and phone software most updated.
How to switch on the fall detection function:
Step 1: Access the Galaxy Wearable application;
Step 2: Hit SOS;
Step 3: Switch on Detect Falls;
Step 4: Access Add Contact. Else, select from Contacts;
Step 5: Pick contacts to include in your emergency contacts.
For further info about this capability on the Galaxy Watch, you may be interested in checking this out.
Some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. Does the fall detection feature offered by Apple Watch need Cellular?
No, it does not. Not requiring the cellular version to function, it runs admirably on Bluetooth versions also.
But please note that in case you do not get the model’s cellular version, pairing it with your iPhone is necessary. That is because it asks for network connectivity to make the emergency call.
2. Are smart wristwatches capable of calling 911?
Yessir. Given the network access, they are equipped for calling 911.
Apple Watch will contact 911 automatically since it recognizes a fall. Plus, as soon as the call end, the device will send the texts to your predefined emergency contacts. Doing so allows them to find support for you.
In a nutshell
Nowadays, smartwatches are quite remarkable. They have various innovative attributes and highlights, making them your artificial intelligence assistance.
For instance, their ability to detect falls is noteworthy. It should let emergency services and the contacts you trust have an idea that you are needing help. Though the feature is predominantly intended for older individuals, younger folks may find it is beneficial.
Along these lines, in case you are keen on knowing what smartwatches have fall detection, consider the above options.
Last but not least, if you have any inquiries, do not hesitate to let us know in the comments section. Remember to check out other helpful guides on our website as well.
