How your Pixel Watch steps in if you stop breathing

Your Pixel Watch can provide critical assistance during a breathing emergency. If your blood oxygen level drops dangerously low, signaling a potentially life-threatening situation like severe pneumonia, accidental drug overdose, or choking, the device can automatically detect this. This feature, known as breathing emergency detection, is unique and opt-in.

Once triggered, it uses an advanced AI algorithm analyzing heart rate, motion, and altitude data to confirm your unresponsiveness and lack of movement for over 30 minutes to minimize false alarms. If the algorithm is confident in the emergency, it initiates a series of alerts. Initially, it sends a strong vibration and a full-screen notification.

If you ignore these, an audible alert plays, and a 30-second countdown begins. If you don't respond, the watch will attempt to call emergency services using either your connected phone or LTE. The call includes an automated voice message confirming the breathing emergency and your location. If you have emergency contacts set up, the feature notifies them of your potential need for help.

The development of this feature was a careful process, involving medical professionals to understand how oxygen loss presents in the body and extensive real-world testing to reduce false alarms. It works alongside other safety features like Loss of Pulse Detection. Currently available in several European countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K., this feature is a step towards proactive personal safety.

However, it's not a replacement for medical evaluation and cannot diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Emergency calling depends on the functionality of your phone or watch, and the feature does not work for users with preexisting respiratory conditions or during prolonged sleep.