Hello Runabout, thank you for asking us your questions about the Samsung Galaxy Fit3. The Galaxy Fit3's hard fall detection utilizes its built-in sensors to detect a sudden, hard impact, then it alerts your paired phone to send an SOS message with your location to pre-set emergency contacts after a 60-second countdown, giving you time to cancel it if it's a false alarm, but it requires the phone connection to send the alerts. Check out, "Use the Detect fall feature on your Samsung smart watch" if you would like to learn more about this awesome feature. Reach out to Support afterward if you would like further assistance. Thank you for being a dedicated Samsung customer. - Debra