Los Angeles County search and rescue responders have hailed the effectiveness of Apple's iPhone crash detection program after it played a crucial role in saving the life of a man who drove off a 400-foot cliff on July 21. The driver, whose car was found at the bottom of a ravine along Mount Wilson, was discovered thanks to the timely alert sent to emergency services by his iPhone 14.
Volunteer search and rescue responders from the LA County Sheriff's Department received the report about the incident around 11 p.m. on July 21. Mike Leum, a group leader for the search and rescue team, emphasized that accidents of this nature usually result in fatalities, making the iPhone alert a lifesaving intervention.
"The majority of calls we get there over the sides usually are fatal. So I'm not convinced that they would have ever been found," said Leum.
The crash detection feature, introduced by Apple in September 2022, uses the phone's sensors to detect signs of a potential crash or hard fall. If triggered, the program automatically sends an alert to emergency services, providing them with crucial information about the incident's location.
In this particular case, rescuers traced the car's skid marks and a damaged guardrail to locate the driver. Through audio communication, they were able to establish his whereabouts at the bottom of the steep ravine. An airlift was then used to transport the driver to a nearby trauma center.
Despite the severity of the accident, the driver miraculously had no major injuries besides a head laceration. Leum expressed his gratitude for the crash detection program, emphasizing that the man's injuries could have been fatal if not for the swift rescue.
"This guy on Friday would have bled out," Leum said, underscoring the critical importance of the iPhone's crash detection feature.
While the crash detection program has proven to be instrumental in emergencies like this, it hasn't been without some issues. After its release, there were reports of false positive alerts being triggered, which inadvertently contacted authorities in non-emergency situations such as amusement park rides or sports activities.
An Apple representative acknowledged these concerns and confirmed that the company had promptly addressed them through multiple software updates. The LA County Sheriff's Department also worked closely with Apple to prevent such false alarms.
Despite the initial challenges, Leum cited several instances where the crash detection program has undeniably saved lives. He highlighted at least four victims who might not have been reached in time without the iPhone's alert system.
"Nobody saw the crashes, so who knows how long it would have taken for someone to file a missing person report and for some agency to backtrack and try and locate these people," Leum added, expressing his appreciation for the life-saving technology.
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