The Apple Watch has made headlines again for saving a life, this time in a dramatic rescue involving a backcountry skier in Washington state. In this case, a skier fell approximately 1,000 feet down a mountain in freezing temperatures. Thanks to the Apple Watch’s SOS feature, rescuers were immediately alerted to the emergency. The skier, who had suffered significant injuries, was able to send an SOS signal, which included their precise location. This allowed first responders from King County Air Support and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office to quickly pinpoint the skier’s location and carry out the rescue.
The Apple Watch’s built-in Emergency SOS feature, which can be triggered by the user in case of an accident, played a key role in this rescue. The device automatically sends out an alert to emergency services and shares important data, such as the wearer’s location, which can be vital when every second counts. The combination of GPS tracking and real-time emergency notifications gave rescuers a head start in the challenging terrain, potentially preventing the skier from freezing to death in the harsh conditions.
This isn’t the first time the Apple Watch has been credited with saving lives. In several previous instances, the watch’s Fall Detection and Crash Detection features have helped first responders locate individuals in need of immediate help. For example, in 2020, an elderly man in Canada was saved after his Apple Watch alerted authorities when he fell and became unresponsive. Similarly, in 2021, a woman in the US was rescued after her Apple Watch automatically dialed emergency services following a car crash.
These incidents underscore the critical role wearable technology can play in emergency situations. With features like Fall Detection, which senses if the wearer has fallen and is unresponsive, and the ability to send an SOS signal in case of emergencies, the Apple Watch has proven itself as a life-saving tool, particularly for outdoor enthusiasts, elderly individuals, or anyone at risk of sudden medical events.
