The Apple Watch is not your average wearable device. Sure, it can tell time, track steps, and make phone calls, but that’s not all it’s capable of. Since its release back in 2015, Apple has jam-packed the Apple Watch with features that can potentially save your life.

Interested in having a glorified accessory that does more than just count your steps? Keep reading.

5 life-saving features of the Apple Watch

Fall Detection

Even something as harmless and insignificant as climbing up a ladder to swap out a lightbulb might turn deadly if you slip and can't get back up. Alternatively, you might have a medical condition that causes frequent falls or loss of consciousness. Whatever the issue may be, you would need to notify the emergency services immediately.

Fortunately, Apple Watch Series 4 and later models come equipped with an accelerometer and gyroscope that can detect falls. If your watch detects a fall, it will alert you with a tap, sound an alarm, and display an alert. If, God forbid, you didn't move within 60 seconds, your Apple Watch would alert local emergency services and share your location with your emergency contacts.

Want to know how to activate this life-saving feature on your refurbished iPhone? Go to the Watch app, navigate to Emergency SOS, and enable Fall Detection. You can also add your emergency contacts on the same page.

Blood Oxygen

Every breath you take fills your lungs with life-giving oxygen that travels through your bloodstream, determining your “blood oxygen level.” Without adequate oxygen levels, your body could be subject to all sorts of health problems.

Generally speaking, people have a blood oxygen level of 95-100%. Low oxygen saturation can be an indication of a severe health condition, such as heart or lung disease, making it essential to monitor your oxygen saturation levels.

The good news is if you have an Apple Watch Series 6 or a later version, you can measure your blood oxygen level by opening the Blood Oxygen app. Place your arm on a flat surface and ensure that the watch is snug but not too tight on your wrist. After 15 seconds, you will receive your blood oxygen level readings.

Emergency SOS

It's always great to have peace of mind and be prepared for any situation – and that holds truer for emergencies. Apple Watch has a built-in feature that is a lifesaver if you ever find yourself in a life-threatening condition.

Holding the side button (the one right beneath the Digital Crown) will achieve two things: (1) activate the Emergency SOS slider and start the 5-second countdown to dial 911, and (2) send your current location to your emergency contacts of choice.

ECG

If a few years ago, someone told you you could use your watch to detect a potentially fatal cardiac condition, would you believe them?

With Apple Watch’s ECG app (Series 4 or later), you can detect irregular heartbeats, which could be a sign of a serious heart condition such as atrial fibrillation.

But don't worry folks; the ECG app can help you catch it early and prevent further complications. If that happens, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

To enable this life-saving function, open the ECG app, rest your arm on a flat surface, and hold your finger on the Digital Crown. In just 30 seconds, you’ll have your results and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your heart is in tip-top shape.

Medical ID

Accidents happen. We know it, and you know it. The question is: what are we going to do about it? Well, a smart person is always prepared for the unexpected. Apple has a smart life-saving feature for smart people: Medical ID.

The Medical ID app on your iPhone and Apple Watch allows you to enter vital medical information like blood type, allergies, medical conditions, emergency contacts, and current medication – to name a few. This information is readily available on your Apple Watch, even if it’s password-protected.

That said, you must first set up Medical ID on your iPhone. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the side button behind the Digital Crown
2. Slide the Medical ID toggle to the right
3. Edit your Medical ID on your Apple Watch by going to Settings > Health > Medical ID > Edit Medical ID

Note: To ensure that your Medical ID can be accessed even if your Apple Watch is locked, just toggle on Show When Locked.

Parting thoughts

The Apple Watch is a remarkable product. The reasons are many. Some are motivating enough to invest in it; others aren’t so much. However, the fact that Apple has taken an interest in our health and well-being goes to show that their hearts are in the right place.

When you consider the life-saving features of the Apple Watch, it’s difficult to argue that it’s anything less than a wonderful device to wear on your wrist. Sure, it’s a bit pricy, but given how it can keep you safe, it’s well worth the investment.

You might be thinking, "Well, yeah, I'd love to get one, but I just can't afford it at the moment." Well, folks, Loop has you covered.

The fact that you can get a refurbished Apple Watch for a fraction of the price of a new one is revolutionary. When you buy a refurbished Apple watch from Loop Mobile, you know it will be of the highest quality and will perform just as good as a brand-new one. No other brand can offer a purer device.

This is excellent news for Apple fans who are trying to save money, and it also indicates that we are making progress toward a more sustainable future. Buying a refurbished Apple Watch is good for the environment since it helps cut down on tech waste.

Loop Mobile's selection of refurbished Apple Watches provides a fantastic chance for consumers to get a high-end digital device at affordable prices. It's a positive development that bodes well for the future of sustainability – and at Loop we’re all about that.