Can Smartwatches Be Lifesavers? 5 Times The Device 'Rescued' People

Smartwatches, equipped with features that promptly respond to emergencies, have reportedly rescued the lives of several people in danger. From detecting abnormal heart rates to swiftly dialling helplines and even detecting falls, these devices have turned into what can be described as 'lifesavers' in critical situations. Engineers are constantly working towards making technology even more effective and reliable for humans. Here are five times these advancements proved that engineers are winning. These five instances from across the world enabled people to get assistance on time.

Delhi Woman Says Smartwatch Detected Rapid Heart Rate

Sneha Sinha, a 35-year-old Delhi-based woman thanked Apple CEO Tim Cook via email, saying that her Apple Watch saved her life. The woman said that on April 9, she suffered an Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)– a rapid and abnormal heart rhythm, when the device on her wrist alerted her to visit the doctor right away, News18 reported.

When she was rushed to the Emergency Room, doctors reportedly examining her could not read her pulse. They had to eventually give her three rounds of direct shock of up to 100 joules to get her heart beating again. "Had the watch not alerted me of the serious condition around midnight, I would not have gone to the hospital and would have lost my life,” Singh claimed.

Wales Man Uses Watch To Call For Help While Having Heart Attack

In November 2023, Paul Wapham, the CEO of Hockey Wales said that he felt a sharp pain in his chest after his daily run. Using his smartwatch to call his wife, Laura, he managed to save himself from a heart attack. Laura immediately rushed him to the hospital and the paramedics successfully saved his life.

“'I went for a morning run at 7 am as I normally do, and about five minutes in I had a massive pain in my chest. It was a shock for everybody really, including my family. The care I received was brilliant. I am also really thankful to my wife for bringing me to a hospital because it was a shock for her as well", he told the news portal Wales Online.

UK Man Saved 3,000 Times From Potential Heart Attacks

The ECG sensor on a UK man's smartwatch saved his life from a heart attack about 3,000 times, he claims. Speaking to the Independent, 54-year-old David Last said that he decided to visit the hospital after getting multiple alerts. After multiple medical tests, he was shocked to discover the number of heart problems he had all this while.

The man found his heart rate dropped to as low as 30 beats per minute on several occasions (normal heart rate is 60-100bpm). Upon noticing the decline in heart rate several times, his wife asked him to get it checked. The tests showed that his heart rate slowed down around 138 times in 10 seconds over the 48-hours testing period.

He is reportedly in much better health since undergoing treatment. Thanking his wife for gifting him the valuable device, Last said, "If she hadn't bought me my Apple watch for my birthday, I wouldn't be here. I will always be eternally grateful to her for it. Apart from charging it, it's always staying on me now." 

Seattle Woman Buried Alive By Husband, Calls 911 Using Smartwatch

In October 2022, a woman in Seattle was stabbed, duct taped, and buried alive by her husband in the woods. Luckily, she managed to dig herself out and use her smartwatch to call for help. The woman said that she and her husband were going through a nasty divorce when he abducted her and committed the gruesome crime. 

The Washington 911 department received a call from the terrified woman pleading for help but all they could hear was a muffled voice. The department tracked down the location and reached her house but was unaware of what the situation was. The seven-minute-long call was from the 42-year-old who was tied up and abducted by her estranged husband.

65-Year-Old US Man Suffering Heart Attack Saved By Apple Watch

Jeff Priest from the US said that while he faced no symptoms of an attack, his smartwatch alerted him about irregular heartbeats, prompting him to go to the emergency room. "I thought there was something wrong with the watch. I wasn't feeling bad, I was feeling my normal self," he told the publication Post.

At the hospital, medical professionals confirmed the presence of heart problems and quickly administered treatment. Further evaluation revealed persistent atrial fibrillation. "I wasn't having any symptoms," he said. The hospital staff kept asking him, "Your chest doesn't hurt?' No. 'You can't feel your heart racing?' No."