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Falls monitoring and alerting explained...
Pressing the SOS button is the main method by which the wearer can raise help if they have had a fall.
To activate an SOS alert the wearer must press and hold down the SOS button (for more than 3 seconds). The blue bar will fill the screen, activating the SOS alert.
Note: Watches setup for people with severe cognitive impairments do not have the SOS button available (by default).
The Companion Watch will attempt to detect a hard fall and raise help, if the wearer is not moving.
The watch will monitor the following sequence of events and if triggered, raise a potential fall alert:
1. The watch has an altitude sensor and must detect a drop in height.
2. The on board accelerometer must also detect a rapid stop.
3. If both these events happen, the watch will spend between 15 and 120 seconds monitoring for movement (and other sensors).
No movement assumes the wearer is unconscious.
Alerts and notifications...
Once an alert is activated, the watch will vibrate and the display screen will provide the wearer with prompts. The watch will also inform the wearer with audible messages.
Alerts and notifications are setup and managed via the Companion Service. These settings can be changed via the Companion App or by speaking to your Companion advisor.
Alerts can be delivered in various ways;
• automated telephone call to the support contact(s)
• as email and notifications on the Companion mobile App
• a combination of either telephone or app alerts
Cancelling a false alert…
At any point after an SOS or Fall alert is activated, the wearer can cancel an active alert.
Simply press and hold in the CROWN button (located next to the number 3), until the cancel bar has filled the watch display (about 3 seconds):
Disclaimer...
The Companion Watch fall detection algorithm was developed over a 4 year period, in partnership with Philips. However wearable devices are not able to predict all potential falls scenario's. Therefore Companion Technology cannot provide any guarantees that all fall scenario's will be detected and alert on.
At this time, it is not possible to change the sensitivity of the fall detection parameters.
To switch off fall detection and alerting, simply remove the User Has Fallen alert type from the Alerts and Notifications section (via the App, web portal or email your Companion Advisor).
Watch based fall detection is notoriously difficult to predict, as demonstrated during this live interview with Sheila Hancock who was wearing an Apple Watch.
Video: How to raise help...
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