Fallen Detection & Notification App

[morganbrown]

Recently, I have been thinking about what would occur if I fell down and either could not manage to get myself up or became unconscious whether within my apartment or elsewhere.

The fact is that I could not manage to afford one of those devices that can be used in such cases where emergency responders can be contacted and then be dispatched to the scene.

While in the process of thinking about this type of scenario and what potential options might be with which to address it, what came to mind is about how I already have the technology on my wrist, my Fitbit Charge 3 model fitness tracker smartwatch, that could do just what is needed should something along the above lines ever happen.

What would be required is to include an app within its main app that people with the device could select and program with contact information and the like for if and when something happens, like a fall or other need for assistance or alert 911.

So, with this in mind, I just called Fitbit and provided them with the details of my idea and the person who took my call wrote it up and will be passing along my suggestion for potential consideration.

Am hoping that Fitbit will seriously consider doing something meaningful along these lines. It could help save some lives.

[LLH777]

Apple watch has this fall detection now. Is fitbit planning to add this feature in future smartwatches?

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @LLH777, thanks for explaining why you would like to have the option to see Fallen Detection & Notification App. Thanks for sharing your feedback. I've moved it into a similar request.  A lot of users are asking for this option, I hope we receive updates soon.

[alex-w]

Hi Devin 

Thanks for the LifeBuddy tip. Unfortunately  It  is a US only service.  Besides it comes at a fairly hefty price.  It should be free on the Sense as it is on the Apple Watch.   

[Danaemborsky]

Might explain why the Apple watch costs so much more. Still, to be
competitive fall detection would make a great sales advantage.

[V8etr]

Guys please do not hope that Fitbit will implement this feature, there is another feature suggestion regarding about this topic was brought up since 2016, Fitbit will not listen to you, they will just copy and paste their responses back to you. My advise get Garmin or Apple watch. 

[alex-w]

I.’d rather take the positive and optimistic view side.  I love my Sense watch and the FitBit app despite the limitations imposed by the insane Premium service, and I would miss them both.   I have the Apple Watch which is useful, but once again, does not offer the platform the platform I need for my fitness needs.

I am hoping that the Google takeover will cause a refreshing change and trigger a much smarter and customer responsive environment.   I am definitely not going to abandon FitBit yet.

[honeypudd]

After many years and countless watches, for all the family, from the first HR to the Ionic. I’ve now jumped ship and have an Apple Watch. One of the best decisions I’ve made. Would I go back to Fitbit - possibly, but they’d have to up their game and add specific features. My friends are now all leaving for Apple and Garmin.  Wondering when Fitbit will see they’re being left behind in certain areas by major competitors. 

[rparnes]

Can we please get a fall detection notification added to the fitbit suite. It would be amazing to get this added as I have a visually impaired mother who due to age is falling down often. She is having a hard time using her phone and dropping it all the time. At least if she has it on her hand, we can monitor activity and also falls. 

Hoping this functionality would happen soon and that will be inline with the Apple products who have had this functionality in their watches for many series.

[Diana818]

Fitbit Please please listen to your users. Most people don't write & ask they just buy Apple, Garmin, & now Galaxy 3 watches. You keep counting on brand loyalty but as loyal as I am this feature is becoming more & more important to me to have the ability for my emergency contacts to be notified when I am in trouble so they will check on me. I am also considering leaving sense because it lacks this feature

[Megr81]

Add a Medical/Fall Alert feature (button or app) that someone who has a serious medical or fall issue that lives alone can press if they are having an emergency are not near their phone to call for help. They can easily find and press this button and it will connect with and alert a loved one or friend or neighbor that can help them.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Megr81, thanks for sharing this suggestion about having a fall detection and notify others in case they need assistance with us. This idea was already requested in the Feature Suggestions board, so I’ve moved your post here. This will help us to keep the forums organized and make sure the suggestions don't get confused, or split a popular vote. Click on the thumbs-up to show your support.

[StanOcean]

Fitbit needs a method to detect fall detection. It does not make sense that apple watch has one and Fitbit does not. There should be a method of detecting falls and reporting them to someone else or calling emergency services.

[SunsetRunner]

My wife gave me a Fitbit Sense, as a gift for Christmas 2020.  She purchased it in Costco, who offers a 90 days refund policy, and gave me the purchase receipt. Therefore, I have until the end of March to refund it. I like the battery life and the use of Alexa in the Fitbit Sense. I am a 100% disabled combat veteran with a heart and other major health conditions. Most of the time, I am home alone.  In case if a health emergency or a fall, there is a high  possibility I might not remember my cellular is in rear pocket of my pants or on the sofa.  Most likely, I will remember I have a smart watch on my wrist. Therefore, I see the need to use my Fitbit Sense to make an outgoing call to an emergency contact or 911.  If I could move, I would like to use Alexa on the Fitbit Sense to make that outgoing call.  This call can safe my life. 

As the end of March approaches, for the last 2 weeks I have spent quite some time doing research in order to decide which smartwatch is the best option for my needs. Today, I was able to find this Fitbit Community Chat. I see comments posted for over 90 days. After reading most of the suggestions submitted by Fitbit watch owners and over 90 days have gone by, in my personal opinion, most likely Fitbit & Google will not update the software or develop an APP to allow outgoing calls, emergency calls, and/or hard fall calls detection.  With all of the smart software developers Google employs, 90 days was plenty of time to listen to the Fitbit Sense users. I bet Fitbit is going to wait until the end of this year, to come out with a Fitbit Sense-2 and this watch will have the features users are asking for. If I wait until then, it will be too late for me to refund the one given to me.

After doing my research and visiting this community page, I reached the decision that I have to refund the Fitbit Sense and purchase the Apple SE watch. The Apple SE watch has the fall detection and outgoing call features. Also, I can use Siti to make an outgoing call from the watch.  

My wife paid $319.99 for the Fitbit Sense.  Costco has the Apple SE watch for $299.99. When it comes to my health and safety, having the ability to call someone or 911, in case of an emergency, is more important than having a longer battery life.  As much as like the Fitbit Sense, I have to make a realistic decision.  With my heart broken, I have to say good bye to my Fitbit Sense and welcome the Apple SE. Of course, I have an IOS phone.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @StanOcean, thanks for explaining why you would like to have the option to see a Fall Prevention and Detection option for Fitbit devices. I've moved it into a similar request. I think that a lot of users would like to have this option on their Fitbit devices. You can learn more about how Fitbit decides what suggestions get released in our FAQs.

You can also vote for this other similar suggestion: Add Fall Detection in Fitbit Sense.

[chartjes]

Fitbit you're doing a great job of hurting us into this thread, but WHEN will it be available???

CH


Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device

[ajith555kumar]

It is a must have option to keep up the brand quality

[alex-w]

Hi Stan,

I noticed another similar comment in this discussion.  The service is only available in the US and once the BETA ends it will carry a costly subscription. 

This post is about features requests for the Sense not plugging external products and services    

This feature is already available with the Apple Watch and is free as it should be.

The Sense has equally exceptional technology (and may be more) than the Apple Watch so there is no reason why it is missing.

[Stanley85]

I'm with you all in this. I'm epileptic and when I walk the dog, automatic fall detection and notification to SOS contacts would be great in the case of seizures. There's rarely time for a manual process on my smartphone.

It's a big advantage of the Apple Watch - please, Fitbit!

[StanOcean]

I agree with above commenter. There is clearly high demand for fall detection. Fitbit is simply herding us all into one thread, rather than addressing the issue itself. Fitbit, unless you make fall detection part of your watch, there is simply no reason for me and many others not to transition to apple watch. 

[Bonacheeta]

I ended up getting a Samsung Active 2 watch after an entire year of NOTHING
from FitBit. You guys are terrible.

[Mgeotsa]

Agree. Fitbit Versa 2 & newer models ALL have 3-axis accelerometers making them CAPABLE of fall detection.

My Medicare plan provides access to Fitbit Premium. Drs have recommended I use fall detection & emergency contact alerts. I've a relatively new android cell phone so can't afford switch to Apple products.

But Samsung has fall detection at prices similar to lower feature Fitbit. It'll work w Android or Apple phones. They've even applied device updates to ADD fall detection to older Galaxy Active 2 smart watch.

Fitbit is WAY BEHIND the curve.

Despite having been an early user of Fitbit trackers I'll be buying a Galaxy smart watch.

Another lost opportunity.

[Susu4080]

I bought the Sense as I thought it would have the fall detection. Very disappointed 😞. 

[wmbc218]

Well, I came here hoping to find that FitBit had fall detection at least in the works for the next upgrade - would have waited on a purchase if it seemed likely, but all I found was a 2 year history of people with the same life-saving request and no action. Bummer. Apple it is. 

[Knot8989]

Unfortunately they are missing out on a whole segment of the population. I have been waiting for 2 yrs. In Feb 2020 they told me it was going to be available to download by March 2020 then it was May, then it was later in the fall…then covid hit and still nothng. I don’t know if they even have it in the plan. I am so disappointed.

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[wmbc218]

Doesn't look like they're considering it anytime soon. I did find a third party app that connects a subscription-based service for seniors to the Versa or Ionic that claims to monitor for fall detection and emergencies, enables gps borders, etc. for $20-30/mo, but I'm curious how effective it is if the devices don't really support the detection! Plus, we can see from the comments that it's a useful feature for a variety of users - seniors, athletes, workers, etc. Definitely missing the mark! And the market.