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Apple Watch safety tools offer older users alerts and emergency support
Apple Watch features can help older users stay active, monitor aspects of their health and get emergency assistance, while looking like an everyday smartwatch rather than a medical pendant. The article explains how tools such as Fall Detection, Emergency SOS and Medical ID may support people who want to live independently, though the watch cannot identify heart attacks.
In the US, more than one in four people aged 65 or older fall each year, and 319,000 older people are hospitalised for hip fractures annually, according to figures cited in the article. Fall Detection can contact emergency services if the wearer appears immobile after a fall; Emergency SOS can call for help, and Medical ID lets responders view health details and emergency contacts. Heart rate monitoring and ECG readings can flag some irregularities, while Crash Detection is available on recent models.
In short
- Apple Watch has tools that can support older users living independently.
- Fall Detection can call emergency services if a wearer is immobile after a fall.
- Heart monitoring can flag some irregularities, but cannot identify heart attacks.
Explained simply
Apple Watch is a smartwatch made by Apple that can track some health information and connect to emergency services. Its safety features are designed to help people get assistance while going about daily life, including older people who want to live independently.
Fall Detection can call emergency services if the watch detects a hard fall and the wearer does not respond; Emergency SOS lets the wearer call for help, and Medical ID can show responders health details and emergency contacts. Heart-rate and ECG tools can flag some irregularities, but the watch cannot identify a heart attack.
Falls are a significant risk for older people: US figures cited in the report say more than one in four people aged 65 or over fall each year. These tools may provide another way to seek help, but they do not replace medical care or guarantee that an emergency will be detected.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Engadget as “Every senior with an Apple Watch should set up these 5 health alerts”.