Apple Watch helped save a woman from drowning after her feet got stuck in rocks in the United States. According to local media, the case took place on June 15 on the Columbia River, which is known for its vast waters. The incident had an impact in the international media after a publication on Facebook by the police department of the city of Dells in the state of Oregon. The post said the swimmer made an emergency call via his smartwatch after being trapped in water with an average temperature of 13ºC for 30 minutes.
The police report states that the woman was found by the rescue team to be in a state of hypothermia and extreme exhaustion. After persistent attempts to free his foot from the rocks of the river, the alternative found by the swimmer was to seek help through the Apple wearable, which has an emergency SOS feature for contacting emergencies.
Apple Watch: See seven times the watch saved lives
Woman calls emergency services via Apple Watch after being stuck in a river in the United States – Photo: Reproduction / City of Dales Police Department
How to Activate the Apple Watch’s Emergency Feature
With the SOS Emergency function, Apple Watch automatically calls local emergency services and shares the user’s location with them. The user’s emergency contacts are also notified via text message when the feature is turned on. The emergency call function has been available since the third generation of the watch, which was released in 2017.
To ask for help from an Apple Smart Watch, simply press and hold the side button of the Apple Watch and select “Emergency SOS” from the menu that opens. The wearable must be connected to the iPhone or Internet network.
The resource for requesting emergency assistance is in the Apple Watch menu — Photo: Playback/9to5Mac
Other Times Apple Watch Saved Lives
This isn’t the first time an Apple smartwatch has helped save lives. In 2019, American James Prudciano slipped and fell off a cliff in New Jersey, also in the United States. The man suffered minor injuries, broke his back in three areas, and was saved after rescuers received an alert from his Apple Watch, which recorded the fall via its sensors and contacted emergency services.
The Apple Watch was also a hero in the rescue of a man who fell into a frozen lake in the United States. William Rogers, who was 62 at the time, was skating on the lake when the ice broke, causing him to fall straight into the cold water. After a call with an Apple Watch, the man was rescued from the scene by firefighters.
One of the many stories of people being saved by the Apple Watch in emergency situations is a case that made an impact in Brazil. In 2020, campaigner George Freire discovered he had a heart problem after his clock recorded 140 beats per minute (bpm) for more than ten minutes. Upon notification of the device, the man sought medical attention and was diagnosed with tachycardia, which was treated before the condition worsened.
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