Medical alert systems can get you help quickly in an emergency. They can be lifesaving after a fall. But many people hesitate to wear a device showing they may need extra support.

If that sounds like you or someone you care for, the Apple Watch is something to consider. The device has many high-tech health and safety features. With its customizable bands, it can fit most style preferences. But it’s also expensive, somewhat difficult to use, and not a great fit for every person’s fall detection needs.

Read on to see if the Apple Watch as a medical alert system might be right for you or someone in your care.

The Apple Watch's medical alert features

The Apple Watch offers health features like heart health monitoring and step tracking. It also has quite a few safety features. Here’s the breakdown:

• Fall Detection: The device senses a hard fall and sounds an alarm. If it detects your movement, it will keep alerting you until you cancel the alarm on the watch. If it can’t detect your movement for one minute, it will start a 30-second countdown. If you don’t cancel the countdown before the 30 seconds are up, the watch will automatically contact emergency services. Then, it’ll contact the emergency contacts in your account to let them know where you are and that you’ve fallen.
• Contact Emergency Services: Similar to an iPhone, the Apple Watch can contact emergency services with the touch of a button. Just press and hold the side button on the watch until the SOS Emergency screen comes up.
• Medical ID: Add medical information about yourself, and you can set it to show up on the lock screen of your watch. You can add things like allergies, medications you take, and your blood type.
• Crash Detection: The crash detection feature contacts emergency services when it detects a car crash. It needs to be turned on in your settings for it to work—it’s not an automatic feature.
• Check In: The Check In feature alerts contacts in specific situations, like once you’ve reached a set destination, completed a workout, or after a certain amount of time has passed. This could be helpful for a care partner who wants to monitor from afar.
• Siren: Your watch will make a very loud sound if you set off the Siren. This can attract attention if you think you’re in danger.

Apple Watch technical requirements

To use an Apple Watch as a medical alert device, you need an Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra or later. Earlier models will not have the features listed above.

If you have an iPhone 14 model or later, you can also use the Emergency SOS via satellite feature. It allows you to text back and forth with emergency services even if you have zero cellular data or Wi-Fi coverage. If you were hiking in a remote location, for example, even with no cell service, you could send texts back and forth with emergency services via a satellite connection.

Setting up medical alert functions on the Apple Watch

Medical ID

1. Open the Health app and tap the Summary tab.
2. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
3. Under your profile picture, tap Medical ID.
   
4. To make your Medical ID available from the Lock screen on your iPhone, turn on Show When Locked. In an emergency, this gives information to people who want to help. To share your Medical ID with emergency responders, turn on Share During Emergency Call. When you call or text emergency services on your iPhone or Apple Watch, it automatically shares your Medical ID with them.
5. Tap Edit or Add next to the field you want to update. You can add details such as Medications, Allergies, and any Conditions you have.
6. Tap Done.

Contact emergency services

1. Press and hold the side button until the sliders appear, then drag the Emergency Call slider to the right.
   
   
   
   Your Apple Watch calls the emergency services in your region, like 911. (In some regions, you may be required to press a keypad number to complete the call.)
2. Press and keep holding the side button until your Apple Watch issues a warning sound and starts a countdown. When the countdown ends, your Apple Watch calls emergency services. The Apple Watch makes the warning sound even if it’s in Silent Mode. So, if you’re in an emergency situation where you don’t want to make noise, use the Emergency Call slider to call emergency services without a countdown.
3. Say, “Hey Siri, call 911.”
4. Go to the Messages app on your Apple Watch, tap New Message, tap Add Contact, tap the number pad button, and then type 911. Tap Create Message, enter your message, then tap Send.

Fall Detection

1. The device detects a hard fall and taps you on the wrist, sounds an alarm, and displays an alert.
2. If you’re OK and able to get back up, you can dismiss the alert by pressing the Digital Crown, tapping Close in the upper-left corner, or tapping "I'm OK."
3. If your Apple Watch detects that you're moving, it waits for you to respond to the alert and won't automatically call emergency services. If your watch detects that you haven’t moved for about a minute, it will start a 30-second countdown. If you don’t cancel the countdown before it’s done, it will make the call automatically.
4. After the call ends, your watch sends a message to your emergency contacts with your location. The message tells them that your watch detected a hard fall and dialed emergency services.
5. If the Fall Detection feature goes off by accident, you must cancel the alarm or speak to emergency responders if they are contacted. Don’t hang up on them, or they will automatically send someone to your location to make sure you’re OK.
    

Pros and cons of using an Apple Watch as a medical alert device

Pros

• Sleek look and feel
• Unique safety features, like siren and satellite texting
• Wide variety of health monitoring apps included (more available for purchase)
• Highly customizable
• Impressive accessibility features

Cons

• Must have an iPhone to set up fall detection on an Apple Watch
• Higher upfront costs ($249–$799)
• Only detects hard falls
• Small touchscreen may be difficult for those with dexterity issues, like arthritis
• People not as comfortable with technology may find it difficult to use all the features

The Apple Watch vs. a traditional medical alert system

The Apple Watch can be used as a medical alert system, but that is not its main function, so there are pluses and minuses to using it as one. The biggest similarity between the two is that it can get you help immediately if you feel unsafe or fall and need emergency services. But that’s about where the comparison ends.

*Hard falls are falls from a significant height or with a lot of force.

**Soft falls are slow falls from a standing or seated position.

“A medical alert system is good for older adults who may not have the ability or desire to interact with technology extensively,” said Yelena Sokolsky, a registered nurse and CEO of Galaxy Home Care in New York state. “An Apple Watch can also be a great choice for older adults who are more tech-savvy and want a versatile device. It can be beneficial for someone who is at risk of falls but is not experiencing cognitive decline.”

Choosing the right device for you will depend on what you’re looking for. If you have the budget to spend on the Apple Watch, want extra features, and are set on a more stylish device, it may be the best option for you. If you need a simple device that doesn’t come with high upfront costs and can detect both hard and soft falls, you’ll likely benefit from a standard medical alert system.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Apple Watch automatically detect falls?

Yes, the Apple Watch can automatically detect “hard falls,” which occur from a significant height or with strong force.

Does the Apple Watch work without an iPhone?

The Apple Watch works without an iPhone as long as you have a wireless connection for basic tasks like texting or using pre-installed apps. But an iPhone is required for fall detection capabilities.

What Apple Watch models support medical alert features?

The Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra, or later support medical alert system features.

Can family members track the wearer's location?

You can use the Check-In feature to track the location or habits of the user, like when they finish a workout or when they arrive at a specific address. But you would need to download a location tracking app to know where the user is at all times.