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Fall detection not working.

My fall detection does not work, never has. So since my watch is under warranty I decided to call Apple support to have them check it out. They did an analysis and said it was not the hardware nor the software. They said I must have fallen wrong (both times). I wonder if there is a class to teach you how to fall. Both times I fell I injured myself pretty bad, my right arm and my left leg. This happen in Nov of 2022 and I am still going to PT for them 8 months later. Don’t trust that the Apple Watch is going to alert anyone.

Posted on Aug 24, 2023 4:25 PM

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Posted on Aug 25, 2023 2:05 AM

Yes !! replying to people experiencing the same problem for goods we have paid good money for. also for your information the arm that my watch was on is the one that needed attention. Sorry if it inconveniences you, but it's a serious matter that a function that many of us have bought these watches for DOESN'T work.

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Aug 25, 2023 2:05 AM in response to LD150

Yes !! replying to people experiencing the same problem for goods we have paid good money for. also for your information the arm that my watch was on is the one that needed attention. Sorry if it inconveniences you, but it's a serious matter that a function that many of us have bought these watches for DOESN'T work.

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Aug 25, 2023 12:06 AM in response to uneakone

Agree 100% i had very similar experience ... So I fell heavily & according to my daughter whom found me unconscious, I was on the floor for about 30 minutes. When I was at the hospital afterwards, the doctor asked me if my Apple Watch is the one with fall detection, then immediately was confused as to why it didn’t seem to give my daughter a prompt or my partner/emergency services. The fall was a heavy/larger fall as i hit a wall then landed on concrete.. Knocked unconscious and when daughter found me i Was taken straight to emergency and spent a few days in hospital. No detection of fall on watch, all settings on watch confirmed to be correct by apple techs. But told by the apple health support team that it doesn't detect all falls, but this was a heavy fall which i received a head injury cut to forehead and graze on arm where i hit concrete and at 140kg i didn't hit softly, so maybe only detects if you fall out of a dam tree, plane or building. Apple appears to have a no care policy in regards to you buying a watch for a feature that doesn't work as advertised either. As all they wanted to do after hardware/software testing, was sell me a battery as mine was showing may need to be replaced soon. A joke at best !!

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Aug 25, 2023 3:14 AM in response to fgbyhtnyhbt

You started replicating, I'm just trying to keep up with you.


This is where you ask volunteer users how to change settings or sort out software and hardware glitches.

There are no user settings you can make to help your situation.


Apple will not read this, nor will the many users who have been rescued by fall detection, crash detection, heart rate abnormalities, none if which work 100%. Apple watch is not a medical device or a carer substitute.


https://apple.com/feedback



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Jun 29, 2024 12:34 PM in response to uneakone

I couldn't agree more. For the "privilege" of paying for an additional cellular line MONTHLY and for a much more expensive Apple watch, over the 3+ years I've had my watch, I'd say its performance record looks something like this:


  • % of times that the alarm DIDN'T GO OFF when I HAVE fallen is >90%
  • % of times that the alarm DID GO OFF when I HAVEN'T fallen is also >90%


Shortly after I got the watch and began to realize how USELESS it was, I took it back to the Verizon store where I purchased it and, after 15-20 minutes of fumbling around with it, the "technician" said he couldn't find anything wrong and suggested I send it directly to Apple's Technical Service Department (or whatever it's called). I did that. A couple of weeks later, my watch was returned with a note that said they could find nothing wrong and the watch was working as designed. Further, they added that the watch was not designed to work on all fall scenarios.


Until I find a better solution, I still wear it, figuring a 10% chance of saving my life is better than nothing. If anyone knows of a good app to address this situation, or, a different device altogether, please let me know.










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Aug 25, 2023 7:08 AM in response to fgbyhtnyhbt

My first fall, I feel on my face and ended up with 2 black eyes. Wore sunglasses for 6 weeks when I would go out in public. The second time was in November and hurt both my left leg and right arm. I am still going to physical therapy to this day. But I cannot get my watch to send alerts. My spouse just has to pound on the steering wheel when she is listening to a favorite song and it goes off. They also told me that I could trigger it by pushing the side button for 5 seconds. Ya, like that would have helped you since you weren't conscious. Hope you are doing well from the fall.

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Jun 25, 2024 6:26 AM in response to sanjiv34

sanjiv34 wrote:

I had a similar experience with my apple watch unable to detect fall on two occasions. First time I had bout of syncope and fell from bed with deep gash on forehead. Second time I fell face forward while running on tiled track. Wrote to apple but no response. I think they have a serious issue with fall detection. In my case it just does not seem to function.

Have you told Apple?


Product Feedback - Apple

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Aug 25, 2023 1:28 AM in response to LD150

wasn't just my head, didn't pin dive onto my head. i stated that i also had graze on arm and knee as result of hitting the ground. Accelerometer should have picked up the acceleration and force of the fall in any case as advertised. (noting nil movement as result of being knocked out so fall detection failed)


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Fall detection not working.

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