Apple Watch Saves Swimmer Trapped in Cold Water From Hypothermia by Calling 911

The Apple Watch has been known to save lives in the past. Just recently, it proved once more that it could be an ultimate lifeguard when it phoned 911 to help a swimmer who was caught in chilly river water.

The gadget freed a woman whose foot was stuck in rocks and imprisoned her in 56-degree water by notifying emergency services.

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Apple Watch Called 911 to Help the Woman Stuck in Cold Water

The Apple Watch dialed 911 when it was able to reach rescuers to help the woman trapped in cold water. Police records obtained by 9to5Mac show that the woman was stranded in the Columbia River at 56 degrees and her foot jammed beneath rocks.

When she was ultimately rescued, the woman, according to Apple Insider, was close to fatigue and even had some indications of hypothermia. The swimmer said she had spent more than 30 minutes trapped in the river.

An emergency call was placed using an Apple watch. The gadget has an SOS feature that enables users to ask for help by holding down the side buttons for a short period of time.

Users must have an active plan and an Apple Watch that supports cellular technology to make SOS and phone calls. The feature enables the gadget to function even if the user's iPhone is far away.

When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, they decided to provide the drowning swimmer a ladder instead of attempting to free her foot from the rocks. However, the rescue attempt was unsuccessful.

The rescuers saw the situation and determined that the woman needed a rescue swimmer.

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According to the reports, Officer Reams decided to gently enter the water downstream leaving his ballistic vest and deputy belt on the shore. He tried to reach the swimmer's foot under the water to free it and it worked.

The Apple Watch is well-known for having superb swimming tracker functions because of its excellent water resistance, according to the 9to5Mac report. For instance, Series 2 incorporates features intended to assist users with water exercises.

The Apple Watch has improved since the Series 2 to be a better swimming buddy and serve as a lifeguard. First responders saved a lady who was submerged during an incident in Oregon.

How Body Really Reacts to Hypothermia

Maritime New Zealand said the body must maintain a constant temperature of roughly 37.6°C for the heart, lungs, and other essential organs to operate correctly. The blood transports heat to every body part at average body temperatures. To maintain the temperature, the body naturally modifies blood flow. Any extra heat is dissipated by being transferred to the outer layers.

The body's outer layers start to cool as the ambient temperature drops. To prevent the cooling from spreading to the vital organs located deeper within the body, the blood flow to the outer regions is reduced. Due to the decreased blood flow to the hands and feet, they feel chilly. Shivering begins as an unconscious muscular effort to increase body heat.

The body's inner core will start to chill as it cools. Many victims die far more quickly when submerged unexpectedly in cold water, even if gradual loss of body heat can cause loss of consciousness and death. Some people are susceptible to cold shock, which can quickly lead to heart failure.

The onset of hypothermia is at hand. As the body makes severe attempts to preserve the temperature of its essential organs, the blood flow to the body's outer areas is further decreased. The shaking might lessen or stop. The core's organs will start to suffer. As the brain cools, one will notice reduced control and altered consciousness. The organs will stop working if the core continues to cool.

Consciousness is lost afterward. The condition can be fatal if the person does not receive immediate proper care.