Apple Watch

Apple Watch SOS saved a mom and her baby after a drunk driver hit their car

Zac Hall | Feb 16 2018 - 11:10 am PT

Apple Watch continues to save lives by placing life-changing technology in ordinary places. Kacie Anderson, who shared her story with Shape.com, is the latest example of someone with an incredible experience with Apple Watch. Anderson says her watch helped save her and her nine-month-old son’s life when they were hit by a drunk driver.

Kacie Anderson relied on the SOS feature from her Apple Watch to call 911 emergency services for her and her baby when her iPhone was flung out of reach during a car accident.

“The moment he hit us everything inside the car went airborne. My face took a horrible blow to the steering wheel, headrest, back to the steering wheel, and then to the window. I blacked out for about a minute and could not see. My eyes were wide open but all I saw was black,” Anderson shares exclusively with Shape. “My hands flew around to feel for my phone and then I realized I had my watch on and commanded it to call 911.”

The 24-year-old mom says she wore Apple Watch for a couple of years as part of lacrosse and basketball coaching, but never needed the SOS feature before. Her injuries from the crash were serious enough that medical attention at the scene of the accident was crucial to her being able to take care of her baby:

While Anderson’s son only suffered bruising and scrapes, her own injuries were more serious. “The ambulance arrived and immediately put me on a stretcher and stabilized my neck and back. I had a severe concussion that caused dizziness and confusion for several weeks, and drainage from my ears and nose because my brain was swollen. My neck has two ruptured muscles, and I now have two bulging disks that I am still seeking treatment for,” she says.

Anderson says she feels “so blessed” she was wearing Apple Watch when the car crash happened after it saved her and her son’s life.

Apple added the emergency SOS feature to Apple Watch in the watchOS 3 software update in 2016. In the U.S., holding down the side button on Apple Watch for a few seconds calls 911 and sends a text to your emergency contact saying that you need help … all without having to tap through multiple apps in a terrifying situation.

Emergency SOS also sends your current location including updates over time when activated. Outside of the U.S., the feature works with other emergency services as well. If you don’t have the feature fully set up or haven’t needed it before, you can learn more about how SOS on Apple Watch works here.

The feature relies on a nearby iPhone for Apple Watches without a cellular connection, but your iPhone only needs to be in range and not in hand. Apple Watch Series 3 with built-in cellular can use SOS without a nearby iPhone.