A recent CBS News report highlights the account of a Delaware student who credits her Apple Watch with saving her life when she fell unconscious due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Natalie Nasatka, while in her Delaware residence, experienced extreme exhaustion and blurred vision before losing consciousness. In a crucial moment, Nasatka utilized the Emergency SOS feature on her Apple Watch to contact 911.
Upon the arrival of the fire department, she was revived in an ambulance with oxygen. Subsequent testing by the fire department confirmed dangerously high carbon monoxide levels in Nasatka’s apartment, reaching 80 parts per million.
Nasatka believes the gas leak originated from a malfunctioning heater, a common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning in winter. She acknowledges the importance of having a carbon monoxide detector in her apartment, as it would have provided early warning before the levels became hazardous.
How to use Emergency SOS on your Apple Watch?
To initiate Emergency SOS on your watch, press and hold the side button (located below the Digital Crown) until the Emergency Call slider appears.
You can either drag the slider to promptly start the call or continue holding the side button for an automatic call to emergency services after a countdown.
According to Apple, when you make an Emergency SOS call on your Apple Watch, it automatically contacts local emergency services and provides them with your current location. After the call concludes, your Apple Watch sends a text message to your designated emergency contacts, sharing your current location.