How a doctor saved his co-passenger’s life using an Apple Watch

The Apple Watch has been known the world over for its advanced health tracking capabilities – whether it’s for its heart rate or SpO2 level tracking, or the calorie and step counter. The watches have been touted as life-saving by Apple for long. The brand even highlighted the same during the iPhone 15 series launch where the Apple Watch Series 9, was also announced.

Just like multiple cases of early detection of diseases, or timely calls for help have helped save the lives of Apple Watch users, a new story has the wearable saving yet another. A British doctor recently saved the life of a passenger on his flight, using a flight attendant’s Apple Watch. Here’s how.

How Dr. Riaz used the Apple Watch to save a life

Dr. Rashid Riaz, a doctor in the Hereford County Hospital, England, was travelling on a flight from Birmingham, to Verona, Italy, on January 9, 2024. On board, an elderly lady happened to suddenly become short of breath, and Riaz volunteered to help.

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The woman was initially unresponsive. However, with a little effort, he was able to bring her to consciousness. On learning that she had a history of heart problems, Riaz requested to use the flight attendant’s Apple Watch and used its bloody oxygen app, which indicated that she had a low blood oxygen saturation level.

He then requested the crew to arrange for an oxygen cylinder, which helped stabilise the passenger until the aircraft landed at its destination. Here, she was taken to the hospital and was later reported to have made a full recovery as well.

Can the Apple Watch replace medical devices?

Now, the above story certainly does go to show that the Apple Watch can potentially save lives. However, it must also be noted that it cannot substitute proper medical equipment such as an SpO2 or heart rate monitor, which provide users with much more accurate readings. However, they certainly do help give one an idea of their vital parameters everyday.

Moreover, Apple also had to take its Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 off the shelves in the US recently, after the US International Trade Commission ruled that the SpO2 monitor feature violated the patent for the same, by US-based medical device maker Masimo.