EchoCare: Fall Detector and Emergency Alert System with Impact Classification using Novel Heuristic Fall Detection Algorithm

Falls remain a major public health concern worldwide, especially among elders and toddlers, who are prone to injury due to frailty and underdeveloped motor control. In the Philippines, over half of the population has reported experiencing fall incidents, with a portion resulting in serious injuries and fractures. These accidents often lead to delayed emergency response and long-term physical decline. To address these issues, the researchers developed EchoCare, an IoT-based wearable device that detects falls, classifies their severity, and sends automated alerts with location information through SMS communication. The system integrates the Novel Heuristic Fall Detection Algorithm (NHFDA), which incorporates an impact classification feature that analyzes the fall impact to determine the level of severity after it occurred. Through testing phase, it would enable the device to categorize the severity of a fall into mild, moderate, or severe which would allow caregivers and parents to respond based on the level of urgency.