Incident detection and SOS response smartwatches are excellent tools that can assist all types of people, from seniors to rock climbers.
This special feature allows a watch to send an SOS signal in the event of an accident, so you (or your loved one) won’t have to be concerned about getting into an accident alone.
Here, we’ll go over the advantages and disadvantages of the best incident detection and SOS response smartwatches of 2022. We’ll also review how these gadgets work and which brands to look for when making a purchase.
What Are Incident Detection and SOS Response Smartwatches?
An incident detection and SOS response (AKA fall detection) smartwatch watch is one that detects when you have fallen and sends an emergency signal to the appropriate authorities. Pre-programmed settings give the emergency crew access to crucial medical information about your health in the event of an emergency. It also keeps track of things like whether or not you’re allergic to certain medications.
Some watches with a cellular connection will call designated emergency contacts, alerting them to your location.
Aside from that, the device makes use of its built-in GPS to locate you and assign the appropriate team to your position.
Pros of Incident Detection Watches
- The use of incident detecting smartwatches is highly beneficial in an emergency situation
- These devices may make it easier for caregivers of the elderly to carry out their responsibilities
- In some cases, these smartwatches may be able to assist seniors in regaining some level of independence in their daily activities
- They are dependable devices that include helpful capabilities such as health, fitness and sleep tracking
Cons of Incident Detection Watches
- They are frequently more expensive than conventional smartwatches.
Apple Watch SE 2
With numerous features and perks, the Apple Watch SE is one of Apple’s best smartwatches. This high-quality watch offers Apple incident detection and can be used as a fall detector or medical warning device without the need for a smartphone or other electronic device.
It’s waterproof with an ergonomic design that provides greater comfort and durability over the long haul. Also featured in this watch is a powerful dual-core CPU as well as a built-in GPS for increased accuracy and navigation. Reading is easy and the experience is more engaging because of the device’s large retina display and user-friendly interface.
The most significant downside of this device is that it is more expensive than non-Apple options while also providing fewer features than many other brands. The latest Apple Series 7 and 8 can be used as electrocardiograms since they have an accurate blood oxygen sensor, something that the SE does not have.
Pros
- It’s a high-end timepiece that has fall detection technology as well as the capacity to send medical alerts to emergency responders
- This device can be used as a heart rate monitor or as a fitness tracker
- It’s easy to connect to iPhones and other Apple devices
- It has a dual-core processor and powerful GPS system built-in
- It’s made of a water-resistant material that is also comfortable
Cons
- This model does not include an ECG application or a blood oxygen sensor.
Apple Watch Series 7,8 and Ultra
Apple Watch high end series are another excellent option if you’re seeking a high-quality incident detection and SOS response smartwatch. Though this aren’t the first Apple wristwatch to include a fall detection system as well as a medical alert system, it’s simple to use and quite dependable, which is especially important in an emergency situation.
Another advantage of this Apple Watch is that it is equipped with a highly accurate GPS pinpointing your location when in trouble. The display on this device is larger than that of ordinary smartwatches, making it simpler to read.
Compare prices and choose your favorite merchant to buy the Apple Watch
| Product | Supplier | |
| Apple Watch 8 | Amazon | Check Price |
| Apple Watch 7 | Amazon | Check Price |
| Apple Watch 7 | eBay | Check Price |
| Watch Ultra | Amazon | Check Price |
| Apple Watch 7 | Apple | View offer |
| Apple Watch 7 | Target | View offer |
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Amazon |
It’s possible to get hold of a refurbished version if you don’t have the funds for a brand new one.
Check the latest Apple Watch 7 deal prices on either Amazon, eBay, or our merchant of choice – deal page.
Pros
- It is equipped with a very accurate GPS tracker
- Fitness trackers, fall detection devices, and medical warning systems are all standard
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Battery life is limited, which could be an issue in an emergency situation
The Apple Watch Series 6
The Apple Watch Series 6 is an older, but no less high-end smartwatch that can be used as a sleep monitor, compass, and fitness tracker, as well as for texting and receiving phone calls, among other things. It may also be used as an ECG, a fall detector, a medical warning system, and a blood oxygen sensor, to name a few of its applications.
The Apple Watch 6’s most significant drawback is that it is far more expensive than competing smartwatches and has a shorter battery life, with approximately only 17 hours of charge.
Pros
- This is a top-of-the-line device that has been constructed to be waterproof
- It performs a variety of functions, offering a fitness tracker, compass, ECG, blood oxygen sensor, and more
- High level of interoperability with Apple’s products
- Can be used to listen to music and as a voice assistant
Cons
- It is a more expensive alternative to other brands
- The battery life of this device is limited
How to Set Up Fall Detection on an Apple Watch
If your Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 4 or later detects a hard fall when fall detection is enabled, it may link you to emergency services and send a message to your emergency contacts. If your Apple Watch senses a heavy fall and you have remained still for roughly a minute, it will tap your wrist, sound an alert, and then try to contact emergency services.
Fall detection is switched on automatically if the birthdate you specify when setting up your Apple Watch (or adding it to the Health app on your iPhone) shows that you are 55 or older. If you’re between the ages of 18 and 55, you may manually activate fall detection by completing the following:
On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app.
Turn on Fall Detection by going to SOS > Fall Detection.
You may also use your iPhone to launch the Apple Watch app, hit My Watch, press Emergency SOS, and then switch on Fall Detection.
Note that if you disable wrist detection, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4 and later will not try to contact emergency services even if a heavy impact fall is detected.
Choose “Always on” if you want fall detection on all the time, or “Just on during workouts” if you only want it on while you’re working out.
Fall detection during workouts is switched on automatically if you’re between the ages of 18 and 55 and setting up a new Apple Watch with watchOS 8.1. If you’re upgrading from an older version of watchOS, you’ll need to enable the functionality to detect heavy falls only during workouts.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the brand’s top-of-the-line timepiece and can be used for fall detection by connecting it to a compatible smartphone and downloading a fall detecting application. GPS allows it to be used as a precise fitness tracker as well.
With its light weight and small size, this gadget is comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Among other things, you may use it to keep track of how many calories you burn throughout the day as well as how far you walk and how well you sleep at night. As an additional plus, the battery life of this device is exceptionally long.
| Product | Supplier | |
| Galaxy Watch 4 | Amazon | View offer |
| Galaxy Watch 4 | eBay | View offer |
| Watch 4 Classic | eBay | View offer |
| Galaxy Watch 4 | Target | View offer |
Pros
- This Samsung watch is both powerful and precise in its performance.
- Exercise tracker, medical alert system, and fall detection system are all possible applications for this device.
- This style is quite comfortable.
- It may keep track of your sleeping patterns, as well as other aspects of your daily routine, for example.
- It can be used for an extended period of time on a single charge.
Cons
- The Samsung Galaxy fall detection system requires the use of a smartphone in order to function properly.
How to Set Up Fall Detection on a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Fall detection was first introduced in the Galaxy smartwatch line in 2020, and it was capable of detecting if the wearer had fallen down while exercising. On the Galaxy Watch 4, you can now set the sensitivity so that it can detect a fall even while you’re still standing. 2 In addition, the Galaxy Watch 4 may send an SOS notification to up to four pre-selected contacts.
Following the successful pairing of your Watch3 or Watch4 with your smartphone:
1. Launch the Wear application
2. Press the SOS button.
3. Enable the Detect Falls feature.
4. Read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
5. Select either Create Contact or Select from Contacts from the drop-down menu.
6. You may add up to four contacts at a time.
7. Designate a single contact for SOS calls.
8. If you take a heavy fall, your watch will notify you for 60 seconds with a pop-up sound and vibration.
9. Upon failure to answer, an SOS message with your current position will be sent to the person who has been designated as your SOS contact.
Garmin Smartwatches
Garmin wearables are well-known for their high-quality hardware as well as unique features and benefits. It’s hardly surprising that certain Garmin models include fall detection. One thing to keep in mind: the brand calls it ‘incident detection,’ not ‘fall detection.’
The way they recognize incidents is similar to how other smart wristwatches detect falls. When the wearable detects an unexpected collision or slows down, it will send a message to your emergency contacts, including your contact information. Please keep in mind that in order to send the message, your Garmin wristwatch must be connected to your phone.
Which Garmins Have the Feature?
Select Garmin watches now provide new safety and tracking features that were previously unavailable.
The Vivoactive 3 Music, Fenix Plus Series, and Forerunner 645 Music wearables now have a variety of safety and tracking features, including support and incident detection.
Activating the paid option will quietly send a message with your real-time position to your preset selected contacts, making it simpler for emergency responders to locate you if anything happens while you’re out and about.
Even though Wi-Fi is not necessary, your smartphone must be with you at all times and Garmin Connect must be active in order for these wristwatch safety features to function properly.
Did you know the Fenix 7 is here?
How to Set Up Fall Detection on a Garmin Watch
Garmin Connect can broadcast your name and location (if accessible) to your emergency contacts when an incident is detected on your device. Garmin’s LiveTrack location tracking tool determines your location. During an activity, LiveTrack provides a real-time stream of your whereabouts.
In the Garmin Connect app, you must set up Incident Detection and emergency contacts. Below you’ll find information on which Activity Profiles on your device enable incident detection.
Activity-based apps that you acquire from the Connect IQ Store do not operate with incident detection.
A Few Things to Know
- The Garmin device must be linked via Bluetooth to the Garmin Connect app on a compatible smartphone, or the Garmin device must have LTE service enabled (only available for select devices).
- If you’re using an iOS device, the Garmin Connect app must be running in the background and cannot be closed.
- The linked smartphone must have a cellular connection and a data plan from a phone network operator for non-LTE Garmin devices.
- When incident detection is on, the Garmin device must have a GPS signal.
- Text and/or email communications must be received by emergency contacts.
- Before you can utilize Incident Detection, you must first add emergency contacts to the Garmin Connect app.
How to Add Emergency Contacts to the Connect App
- Open the Garmin Connect app on your phone.
- Activate the menu.
- For Android, choose the Garmin Connect app menu icon (upper left).
- Select More on iOS (lower right).
- Select Safety & Tracking from the drop-down menu.
- Choose from the selection of safety features.
- Select My Information and fill in the blanks.
- Return to the previous page.
- Select the option to add an emergency contact.
- Select an option from the drop-down menu. If your emergency contact isn’t displayed, choose Choose Phone Contacts or Create Contact from the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select each contact from the list to check their contact details.
- To modify a contact, click the three dots in the top right corner.
Once emergency contacts have been set up in the Garmin Connect app and those contacts have been synced to the device, Incident Detection will be activated and ready to use with compatible Activity Profiles.