by Robin Kemp
The Morrow Fire Department says a local man is alive today, thanks to his Apple Watch.
On Sunday, January 23, with temperatures near 28.4°F and heavy frost, the man went outside, then “experienced a medical emergency” and fell down. The Apple Watch detected the fall and notified Clayton County 911. Morrow Fire and Morrow Police responded to the call.
Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Moss said that “the location of the call could only be determined by the watch’s GPS, which reported the closest address. The Morrow Fire Department crew arrived on the scene with Morrow Police units and quickly noticed that the physical address was not where the patient was located and began a search of the perimeter.”
Engine 31’s crew found the man near some bushes, “but he was already semi-conscious, confused, and extremely cold to touch from the freezing elements.” The whole process took 12 minutes from the time the Apple Watch called 911.
Medic 31 “arrived, began immediate treatment, and transported” the man to Southern Regional Medical Center. He was later discharged.
“The patient’s outcome could undoubtedly have been much worse considering the extreme weather and the ongoing medical condition,” Moss said in a press release. “However, the success of the incident can be attributed to the quick action of the Apple Watch, the alertness of the Clayton County Emergency Communications Center Dispatcher Alecia Chavous, and the resilience of the first responders to locate and treat the patient.”
Those who responded to the call included:
Morrow Fire Department Engine 31
- Captain Jim Fleming
- Firefighter Tim Steuk
- Firefighter Kevin Contreras
Morrow Police Department
- Lt. Matt Beaver
- Sgt. Bethany Mills
- Ofc. Jamey Fortune
Morrow Fire Department Medic 31
- Firefighter Dat Nguyen
- Firefighter Beth Sanford
Clayton County E911
- Dispatcher Alecia Chavous
The Clayton Crescent has contacted Apple for comment and will update with any response.
