The Google Pixel Watch launched with a solid list of health and wellness features, but it didn’t get one that was missing from launch. With this update, the Pixel Watch now understands if you’ve taken a serious fall and will call emergency services if you cut yourself in the process, or if it doesn’t get a response from you.
The feature, which was announced with the Pixel Watch in 2022 and began testing at the beginning of 2023, should arrive on all Pixel Watch smartwatches starting February 28th.
Your watch will let you know the feature has arrived by showing you a card, and prompt you to head to the correct menu to enable fall detection. It’s not a feature that you need to activate all the time, nor is it turned on automatically. However, Google has worked to make the feature as reliable as possible, so it knows the difference between an exercise or a trip compared to an actual potentially dangerous fall.
What happens if I fall? The Pixel Watch will understand if it was a “hard fall,” and if it doesn’t detect any movement after 30 seconds, it will go through a series of steps. First, the watch will vibrate and beep, and the screen will display a notification asking if you need help. It can be declined at this time if you are well, but if you need help there is an option to contact the emergency services immediately.
If you cannot respond to the notification at this time, the alert will last for about a minute, before the watch automatically places a call to the emergency services. The smart part here is that it triggers an automated message to the operator with your location and a request for help. Alternatively, if the call goes through and you can talk, the watch will connect you as well. You can read more about how fall detection works on the Pixel Watch.
Fall Detection has been a long-awaited feature, and it brings the Pixel Watch in line with the Apple Watch Series 8 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, both of which have similar security features as standard.
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