When someone says “that device is a lifesaver,” it’s usually a statement: A battery pack that recharges a phone on a long trip, for example. But for some devices these days, it can be a very real statement. Just ask Apple: The company often launches its products for the Apple Watch by showing testimonial videos of real people whose lives have been saved by various parts of the clothing, from detecting car accidents to heart arrhythmia.
But these days, the Apple Watch isn’t the only device that can rightfully claim to be a life-saving technology. With that in mind, we’ve put together a roundup of products that could save your or your family’s life – or at the very least, make your everyday life healthier.
Smartwatches
Smartwatches are replacing medical ID bracelets, emergency alert devices and can catch heart failure early. They also happen to be little computers that perform miracles that track your workouts, make phone calls and process payments.
If you’re an iPhone user, the choice is simple: get an Apple Watch. Android users have plenty of options, but the Pixel Watch 4 is probably the best of the bunch for offering a slew of life-saving features.
Both the Apple and Pixel Watch can detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to stroke and other diseases. Of course, neither watch can diagnose the condition, it just collects data and alerts you to potential issues that you can share with your doctor. Apple Watch Series 9, 10 and 11 and Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 can detect early signs of blood pressure, and Google is about to test the same feature for the Pixel Watch 3 and 4.
Outside of heart health, the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch both offer fall and fall monitoring. Once you have enabled the app, a message will appear when the watch detects a hard fall or signs that you have been in a car accident. If you don’t answer, it can call the emergency services (or your designated people) on your behalf. Some models even offer satellite connection options when you’re not on the cellular grid (see below).
And finally, both watches can display important medical information including medications, allergies, blood type and health conditions with medical professionals and first responders when you can’t do it yourself. Not bad for an app that can give you directions and manage your playlists. – Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter
Satellite phones SOS
Being stuck on the side of the road without any sign is my fear – especially if I’m in an unfamiliar place. The good news as a recent iPhone owner is that I have Emergency SOS with a satellite feature – this allows you to send emergency services when you are away – and The regular SOS service allows you to call emergency services if there is an available network provider. All you need for a satellite-enabled device is a compatible phone or a multi-functional mobile smartwatch. Currently, that includes iPhone 14 or newer, Samsung Galaxy S26 series and Google Pixel 9 or newer, as well as Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Google Pixel Watch 4. In general, there is no additional charge for the SOS satellite feature so far, but you will need a current wireless plan. (Some phone models support satellite connections based on carrier-specific plans.)
Fortunately, I don’t have a crazy story to tell about how my iPhone saved my life, but there are plenty of people out there who have gotten the help they need with their phones or Apple Watches. For example, a family of hikers who were lost in the cold Oregon forest were saved because they were able to use the Emergency SOS feature on their iPhone.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, you can activate the SOS service on the iPhone by pressing and holding one of the volume buttons along with the lock button. Once the screen is on, you can push the SOS button to call emergency services. And to use Satellite SOS, try calling first and select the Emergency Text button if the call fails.
That said, don’t assume your phone is good to go with Satellite SOS. Be sure to verify that it works before entering an area without traditional cellular coverage. – Katie Teague, Senior Style Writer
Radon and carbon monoxide detectors
Your house is trying to kill you. Okay, maybe it’s not a real form (unless it’s trapped), but there are two deadly gases that pose a real threat: carbon monoxide and radon. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with both.
You already know about smoke detectors; now they are required by law in residential buildings. But you should also install at least one carbon monoxide detector (ideally near the bedrooms), which can warn you of the presence of odorless gas. It can come from oil-burning sources such as furnaces, water heaters, gas stoves and clothes dryers.
Next: radon, another silent killer. This natural gas seeps up from the ground, into basement drains, foundation cracks and even common sump pumps.
An inexpensive hardware store test revealed that my house actually had high radon (the second leading cause of lung cancer, by the way). After installing the repair system, I installed a radon monitor to make sure the levels stay low enough for safety. – Rick Broida, Senior Technical Writer
Car battery accessories
There are few things that can turn a long day at work into a longer one than going to your car to realize you’ve left your lights on all day and your car battery is dead. Now you may be at the mercy of a near stranger, just in case one of you has jumper cables, or you call a tow truck, which always takes longer and costs more than you think. And that’s a good situation. If your battery goes dead when you’re sitting in the coldest of winter temperatures, the problem can quickly turn into a life-threatening hazard.
That’s where the jumper starter comes in. What was once an unwieldy brick the size of a small suitcase that took up a lot of space in your trunk, has become silly and shrunk down to fit under the seat or even in the glove box, where it goes unnoticed until you need it.
They come in different sizes, so make sure you get one with enough power for your car – you’ll need a bigger jump starter if you drive a truck than if you drive a Honda Fit, for example. Many are good for more than just jumping as well. You can use the following as battery packs to charge your phone and they have a built-in light, should you find yourself in the dark. Some even have compressors attached, in case a stray nail finds your tire and you end up with a flat. Speaking of which, pick up a tire repair kit while you’re at it. – Chris McGraw, Senior Communications Editor
Home security cameras
Can a security camera save your life? It’s not unreasonable: Home invasions happen in real life, not just in the movies – but if you have a camera that can detect motion, turn on a light and sound an alarm, it’s more likely to scare off an intruder.
That’s why I installed several security cameras around the old residence: one to focus on the front door, another to capture events in the yard and so on. They not only warn me when someone is walking, but also take a video of the event – and, if I want, turn on the light and sound the alarm.
What are they? Let me be blunt: I’m not under government scrutiny, so I avoid Ring cameras, because the company is always eager to allow law enforcement easy access. (Since the company’s controversial Super Bowl ad, it has emphasized users’ ability to opt out of such automation, and has canceled at least one such interaction.) . I also don’t want to pay monthly fees for cloud storage and other features, which is why I’ve recently put together the best unregistered outdoor security cameras.
The top three picks from that story have different majors; you can’t go wrong with any of them. But I really like the two with solar batteries. – Rick Broida, Senior Technical Writer
Domestic power stations
When the power goes out, things can get worse. Anyone who has important medical equipment at home, such as ventilators or dialysis equipment, likely already has a large battery that can keep these items running in the event of a power outage. But now that power outages are common, having a power supply is a good idea for many people.
Power stations come in a variety of sizes, from small ones that can power a camping trip to large multi-home backup systems that can power an entire house for days. Unlike a gas generator, there is very little noise (you can hear a slight hum), and there is no risk of negative effects from the fumes produced by those generators.
However, unlike a gas generator, power stations do not produce electricity; they just conserve energy. You’ll need to plug them into the wall or solar panels to charge them, then use them to power your lights and appliances when the power goes out.
All home backup systems are a little different. These are installed by an electrical contractor to determine your home’s electrical supply. They absorb energy when there is a lot of energy, and feed it again when it is cut off. As you can imagine they are more expensive than a simple power station, but they are the best for staying powered.
We have tested many power stations that you can move from one place to another and use them as needed. If you’re concerned about powering important equipment – from fans in the attic to space heaters in the storm – a power station can take that worry away. – Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter
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