Emergency alert devices save lives every day.
Wireless necklaces and wrist pendants empower people to call for help as soon as tragedy strikes, allowing for faster response times.
Not to mention, they give seniors and those with limiting health conditions something priceless: independence.
But would you believe us if we told you smart devices like Apple Watches and Fitbits are also popular for their life-saving abilities?
It’s true.
More and more stories emerge every day of people seeking medical attention based on alerts from these smart devices.
Today, we’ll be taking a look at the most popular emergency alert devices, life-saving smartwatch stories, and how smart tech is becoming intertwined with emergency response.
The Most Popular Emergency Alert Devices on the Market
Now, people aren’t rushing to pick up an Apple Watch or a Fitbit to use them as emergency alert devices.
They do it mainly for general convenience, wellness, and fitness reasons.
As you can imagine, it’s the personal emergency response systems from companies like Life Alert, Philips, and Bay Alarm Medical that top the list in popularity.
In fact, it’s estimated that over three million people use some type of medical alert device, whether it’s a portable pendant or a standalone unit.
However, according to a 2020 consumer usage report, wearable pendants are the most common among seniors.
The data from this report shows that:
- 62% of seniors use wearable pendants
- 35% use a wristband or wristwatch
- 13% use portable units
- 11% use standalone units
- And 5% use some other type of unit
This tells us that there’s a strong desire for sleek, intuitive, and portable emergency response systems.
People don’t want to be confined to their homes due to potential health risks. But they also don’t want to lug around heavy, complicated tech everywhere they go.
And as it turns out, Apple Watches and Fitbits are showing incredible potential to solve this problem thanks to their built-in health-monitoring features.
Of course, these devices aren’t emergency response systems. But with time and advances in technology, they just might start doubling as life-saving wearables!
Speaking of which, let’s take a look at a few examples of how these smart devices are saving lives every day…
True Stories of Life-Saving Smart Tech
Christina Ling was feeling unwell in April of 2018, so she took a quick trip to urgent care. But when all the tests came back negative, the staff told her to go home, rest, and take some Tylenol.
After nearly two days of resting, she was sitting down for about ten minutes when her Apple Watch notified her that her heart was beating at 150bpm.
Other than feeling tired, she wasn’t experiencing any symptoms. So, thinking it was a malfunction, she went to sleep for the night.
Upon waking the next day, she found that her heart rate was still dangerously high. So, she rushed back to urgent care to seek help.
And it’s a good thing she did…
Because her tests showed that she had fluid buildup around her heart, and she needed surgery immediately to avoid a life-threatening cardiac event.
In her words, “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for this watch.”
Michael Glenn wanted to keep track of his eating habits and count his calories every now and then. So, he went out and purchased a Fitbit.
One fateful day in 2018, the smart device alerted him that his heart rate was far below the normal range — sitting at around 40bpm.
Initially, he ignored it.
But after some strong encouragement from his wife, they went to the hospital.
Luckily, they took action just in time. His condition was so severe that he had to be immediately airlifted for emergency surgery.
Turns out, two of his major arteries were severely blocked — one 100% blocked, and the other 80%.
The doctors told him his chance of survival was the same as the flip of a coin. But thanks to the Fitbit, he got the help he needed before it was too late.
Deanna Recktenwald, a high school senior, was feeling just fine one day in April 2018 when her Apple Watch presented evidence to the contrary.
It notified her that her heart rate was at a staggering 190bpm, and displayed a sobering message on the screen:
“Seek medical attention.”
Thankfully, she took its advice, and her mother immediately drove her to the nearest urgent care center.
Although she wasn’t feeling any symptoms, her kidneys were failing.
If she hadn’t gone to the doctor when she did, the situation could’ve turned out very differently.
These stories are the perfect example of how emergencies can happen when we least expect them.
But they also show that the right technology can give us a life-saving advantage when we need it most…
Rescu is Coming to the Apple Watch
In one of the most exciting developments in emergency response technology, the Rescu app is adapting its best-in-class two-tap system to the Apple Watch.
That means users will be able to dispatch help to their location in just two taps on their wrist.
This groundbreaking new feature is perfect for those who don’t always have their phone handy, or for emergencies that make it impossible to reach into a pocket or purse.
With Rescu’s Apple Watch integration, the fastest emergency response on the market will always be just two taps away — right around your wrist.
And as always, you’ll never have to say a word. Just tap fire, police, or ambulance, and then “Send Alert.”
Rescu’s private dispatch center will send the nearest first responder team to your location anywhere in the United States.
Download the Rescu app today for 24/7 peace of mind in your pocket. And stay tuned for the revolutionary Apple Watch integration coming soon!
