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How to use the emergency feature on Samsung Galaxy Watch and other smartwatches

The Samsung Galaxy Watch and other smartwatches come equipped with built-in life-saving features for emergencies. This article covers how to utilize emergency features on your Samsung Galaxy Watch and other similar devices.

How to use the emergency feature on Samsung Galaxy Watch and other smartwatches

Smartwatches are versatile and user-friendly devices, offering numerous helpful features for everyday life. In times of injury or danger, your device's emergency settings can prove invaluable. Follow these steps to set up emergency features on your Samsung Galaxy Watch or other smartwatches:

Getting Started

Begin by downloading and installing the Galaxy Wearable or Wear OS app on your smartphone. The instructions in this article are relevant for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

Emergency Features Setup

Here are the main emergency features available on smartwatches:

  1. Set Up SOS Alerts with Home Key
  2. Detect Falls and High-Impact Activities
  3. Set Up Health Records
  4. Get Low/High Heart Rate Alerts

1. Set Up SOS Alerts with Home Key

The SOS feature on your smartwatch allows you to send emergency alerts to friends and family:

  1. On your connected Samsung phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app.
  2. Navigate to Watch settings > Safety and emergency.
  3. Enable SOS with Home key. You need to grant permissions for location and contacts, then tap Continue.
  4. Select up to 4 contacts to receive alerts in the Send messages to section.
  5. Tap Make SOS call to, then select the emergency contact.

Setting up SOS alert

On your smartwatch, enable the SOS feature:

  1. Swipe down from the top to access the Quick Settings panel.
  2. Select Settings (sawtooth icon) > Safety and emergency.
  3. Enable SOS with Home key and choose how many times to press the Home button to trigger SOS.

How to activate SOS feature

Now, pressing the Home key will activate the SOS feature, causing a red bell icon to appear, and the device will notify your emergency contacts with your location.

2. Detect Falls and High-Impact Activities

Your smartwatch can detect falls and high-impact activities, sending alerts when necessary:

  1. Ensure you have the latest version of Wear OS installed.
  2. On your phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app and navigate to Watch Settings > Safety and emergency.
  3. Enable Hard fall detection and select your preferred detection settings.

Setting up fall detection

To finalize the setup on your smartwatch:

  1. Swipe down from the top for Quick Settings.
  2. Go to Settings > Safety and emergency.
  3. Turn on Hard fall detection.

Enabling fall detection

If a serious fall is detected, your smartwatch will issue warnings and, if left unattended, will automatically send an SOS alert to your emergency contacts.

3. Set Up Health Records

The Medical Info feature allows storing important health information, vital for timely medical care:

  1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app and go to Watch settings > Safety and emergency > Medical info.
  2. Input details like medical conditions and blood type.
  3. Tap Save to create your profile.

Setting up medical information

To access health information on your watch:

  1. Swipe down to open Quick Settings.
  2. Press and hold the Power icon.
  3. Select Emergency call and then tap the profile icon.

Accessing medical information

4. Get Low/High Heart Rate Alerts

Monitor your heart rate with customized alerts:

  1. Open the Samsung Health app on your smartwatch. Go to Heart rate > Settings.
  2. Enable Measure continuously.
  3. Adjust heart rate limits in the heart rate warning section by activating the High HR and Low HR settings.

These methods ensure you can effectively use emergency features on your smartwatch. We hope this information proves helpful.

(29) Comments

  1. Sarah123 -

    Does anyone know if other smartwatches have similar emergency features? I'm curious about my Fitbit

  2. Mike the Gadget Guy -

    Just set up my Samsung Galaxy Watch emergency feature after reading this. Now I feel much safer when I'm out jogging

  3. Sam -

    Please tell me there’s a way to request help without having to scream into the watch! That’d be embarrassing

  4. Alex -

    I've always thought smartwatches were just for fitness tracking. Learning about this feature really changes my view. Thanks!

  5. Brian -

    It’s nice to see a focus on safety features in devices! I think more people should know about this.

  6. Liam -

    Has anyone tried the emergency SOS feature during a hike? I want to hear about real experiences!

  7. Mia -

    What a timely article! I recently got my Samsung Galaxy Watch and was clueless about the emergency settings until now

  8. Michael -

    Does this work with all Samsung smartwatch models? I have an older one that might not support the same features

  9. Jack -

    I’ve set up the emergency feature but hope I never have to use it. It’s great to know it’s there in case things go wrong

  10. Lisa -

    I shared this article with my mom. She just got a Galaxy Watch and needs all the tips she can get

  11. Cathy -

    Great explanation! But what if I accidentally trigger the emergency call? Is there a way to cancel it quickly

  12. Chris -

    Wow! I just tested the emergency feature, and it worked flawlessly! Definitely a relief knowing I have this option

  13. Adam 1987 -

    I always feel anxious when I'm alone outdoors. This guide gave me confidence! Thank you for the detailed steps

  14. Lucas -

    Thanks for the detailed information! These features are crucial, especially for people living alone

  15. Jasmine -

    This article was a lifesaver! I had no idea my watch could do this, and it's such peace of mind.

  16. Lucy -

    I just tested this feature while at the mall, and it was so easy to activate. Can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner

  17. Hannah Cool Cat -

    This is super handy! I often hike alone, and knowing that my watch has this feature is comforting

  18. Fiona -

    The emergency feature has made me feel safer while out running alone. It’s a game-changer!

  19. Ryan -

    Ugh! I just set mine up but didn't think to test it! Time to make sure it’s working properly!

  20. Jordan -

    Great article but could you include some troubleshooting tips? What if the emergency feature doesn’t work

  21. Felix the Explorer -

    I’m a bit of a tech novice, but you made this whole SOS setup seem easy! Here goes my attempt

  22. Kate -

    Thanks for this guide! I never thought of my smartwatch as a safety device until now. Looking forward to learning more features!

  23. Charlie -

    I wish there was a way to make the emergency alarm a bit quieter. It’s kind of loud when I tested it!

  24. Robin -

    My watch has an emergency feature? This is amazing! I need to ensure mine is activated. Appreciate the info

  25. Venus -

    This is such a helpful post! Will definitely share it with my family so they can learn about these safety features

  26. Emily -

    This guide on using the emergency feature is so useful! I never knew my Samsung Galaxy Watch could do that. Thanks for sharing!

  27. Gloria -

    Love the layout of this article! Can’t wait to share it with my friends who also have smartwatches

  28. Hannah -

    Can anyone recommend other smart gadgets that help with safety? This has me interested in exploring more!

  29. Tom H. -

    I love how accessible technology has become! Knowing that I can call for help with just a button click is fantastic

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