Smartwatches have become essential for both tech enthusiasts and fitness buffs. These versatile devices track your daily activities, monitor your overall fitness, manage your communications, provide directions, check the weather, make contactless payments, capture photos, play music through your headphones, and much more. But beyond convenience, your smartwatch can also play a crucial role in your safety, providing vital assistance in emergencies.

Leading smartwatches, such as the Google Pixel Watch 3, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and OnePlus Watch 3, are equipped with advanced safety features designed to help you before, during, and after a crisis, whether due to an accident or a health issue. These tools can alert you or your contacts when something goes wrong, call for help, and even share important information with emergency responders, including your location and medical history. Let’s explore six critical yet often overlooked smartwatch safety features and why they are so important.

Emergency SOS

When you’re in distress, many smartwatches include an Emergency SOS feature that allows you to discreetly call for help. This function typically calls emergency services, shares your location, notifies your emergency contacts, and in some cases, sends information about your medical background and identity.

The method for activating Emergency SOS can differ from one device to another. It often involves a quick action on the watch, such as pressing the home button. To avoid accidental activation, many smartwatches display a countdown or menu before dialing emergency services. In a crisis, you can also contact a family member or friend, though keep in mind that they may not be able to answer immediately.

Emergency SOS or similar features are now common across many smartwatches, including those from Samsung, Google, Garmin, Fitbit, and more. If your watch includes this feature, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with how to activate it. You can usually find detailed instructions in your smartwatch’s app, which may also allow you to customize how it works.

Fall Detection

A fall can result in serious injury, whether you’re exercising or simply going about your day. Smartwatches equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes are capable of detecting sudden movements that indicate you’ve fallen. They will then check if you’re responsive and if you need help. If you’re unresponsive or in need of assistance, the watch will notify your emergency contacts or call emergency services.

Fall detection is available in many modern smartwatches, including the Google Pixel Watch 2 and newer, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and later models. On Garmin devices, this feature is known as “Incident Detection.” Several models of Amazfit smartwatches, like the GTR 4 and GTS 4, as well as the OnePlus Watch 3 (released in 2025), have this feature as well.

Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications

One of the benefits of wearing a smartwatch is the ability to monitor your heart rate continuously, whether you’re at rest or working out. This makes it easier to track your overall heart health. However, smartwatches can also alert you if your heart rate shows irregularities.

Recent smartwatches often include optical heart rate sensors that can detect when your resting heart rate falls outside of your normal range, a sign that you may be experiencing atrial fibrillation (AFib). Recognizing this potential issue early on can prompt you to seek medical advice, potentially preventing more serious health problems.

Display Your Medical Info

In case of an emergency, having immediate access to your medical information can make a significant difference. Certain smartwatches allow you to display critical health data, like allergies, medical conditions, and emergency contacts, which can be viewed by first responders.

The process varies by smartwatch brand. For example, on the Google Pixel Watch, your medical details can be automatically shared when you call for help through the Safety app. On a Samsung Galaxy Watch, you can access your medical information by pressing and holding the Home key and selecting the “Emergency medical info” option. Similar functionalities are available on other brands such as Fitbit and Apple Watches. It’s a good idea to explore how to set this up on your device so that you’re prepared if an emergency arises.

Crash Detection

Some of the latest smartwatches, particularly from 2025, offer Crash Detection, which uses a combination of GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes, barometers, and sometimes microphones to detect if you’ve been in a car crash. If it senses a serious collision, the watch will automatically call emergency services, share your location, and notify your emergency contacts.

This feature is currently not widespread but can be found in devices like the Google Pixel Watch and the Apple Watch Series 8 (and newer models, including SE (2nd generation) and Ultra). To use this feature, you may need to enable it in your smartwatch settings.

Safety Check

For those who are concerned about their safety when traveling alone, the Safety Check feature is a valuable tool. Available on the Google Pixel Watch, it lets you set a timer when heading home, and if you don’t confirm that you’ve arrived safely within the set time, the watch will notify your emergency contacts and provide your location. Apple Watches also have a similar feature, where you can share your location with friends and family for a designated time period, ensuring that someone is aware of your whereabouts.

Which Smartwatch Is Best for Safety Features?

The Google Pixel Watch 3 stands out for its array of safety features, including Emergency SOS, fall detection, irregular heart rate notifications, and more specialized tools like Safety Check and Crash Detection. If safety is a top priority for you, this smartwatch is highly recommended, especially when opting for the LTE model, which allows you to call for help even if your phone isn’t nearby.

For individuals who spend time in rugged environments, investing in a durable smartwatch might be worth considering. These devices are designed to endure extreme temperatures, long battery life, and even water immersion, making them ideal for hikers, climbers, or adventurers. While these features aren’t directly related to safety, they ensure that your watch will function reliably in the harshest conditions.