Most of us have, at one time or another, walked alone through the park at night and concocted hypothetical lines of defense in case something bad happened. Personal Safety Apps Although it is good to be aware of what is around us, it is better to be prepared in advance.
Some shocking statistics came from a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where 44 percent of women reported experiencing some type of sexual violence in their lifetime. Personal safety is no laughing matter and does not discriminate only against women. men and women, children and adults can be victims of harassment and assault. Fortunately, our technological boom has given us more than just games and social media; there are also a number of apps and technologies that can actually keep us safer.
The development of GPS and other location-based technologies has given rise to new and innovative personal security applications. But with so many on offer, how do you decide which app to download?
Common Emergencies and the 10 Apps that Can Help
While all of the apps on our list are aimed at personal security, some are better suited than others for specific situations. Below are some of the most common emergency situations that people encounter in their daily lives. It's worth considering what dangers you're likely to face, then choosing the app that works best for that situation.
Street Harassment
In 2014, a video of a woman walking innocently in New York City went viral after a shocking number of men harassed her while she went about her business. Unfortunately, street harassment is common and can happen in cities, suburbs, rural areas, and even in your own neighborhood. Hollaback and Kitestring are two services on our list that are especially handy for times when your personal space is being invaded in public.
Parties and Social Gatherings
When we think about personal safety, we don't always consider the different ways that feelings of insecurity manifest. Unfortunately, the danger often comes from family circumstances. Of sexual assault cases reported to authorities, 93% of child victims knew the perpetrator, approximately 59% were acquaintances, 34% were family members, and only 7% were strangers. Safety apps that use friend networks, such as bSafe and Circle of 6, are useful for college parties and other social events you'll be attending with close, trusted friends.
Medical Emergencies
Your personal safety may also include potential medical problems such as epilepsy, allergies or risk of stroke. You may find yourself in a situation where talking to the emergency services on the phone puts you at risk. First aid. The American Red Cross and Noonlight are worth checking out if you have a medical condition that can occur anywhere and need to alert first responders to access first aid manuals.
Personal safety for kids
Your kids will undoubtedly have a drastically different high school experience than you, and with the pressure of having a smartphone at a young age, today's kids are more commercially exploited than you are. Unfortunately, children may not know how to react and deal with certain uncomfortable situations, and that is why personal safety apps are especially important for younger children. Check out Circle of 6 and Red Panic Button if you want to equip your kids with a reliable, easy-to-use safety app.
Natural Disasters
Personal safety is not just about protection from harassment or attackers. Recently, the need for emergency services during hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters is all too obvious. If you want your call for help to reach more people than your immediate emergency contacts, the Red Panic Button app allows you to send emergency text messages, but also connects to your social media channels including Twitter, Facebook and To Email . Tweeting during a potential disaster may seem overwhelming, but one simple tweet helped save an entire nursing home during Hurricane Harvey.
Here’s our list of the Top 10 Best Personal Safety Apps for 2022:
1. bSafe
- Best for solo outings or social events.
- Live Follow Me feature is great for parents
- Live broadcast for your tutor or contacts
Your personal safety is not black and white. You might be on a date where you're feeling a little insecure, or at a friend's party when you get that sick feeling in your stomach. The bSafe app has a live “follow me” map feature, as well as voice activation tools, automatic recordings and even live streaming, plus an SOS button that will alert contacts when you're in danger. As an added bonus, bSafe can create fake calls that ask you to get up from the table and leave an uncomfortable situation. Like most of these personal safety apps, bSafe can only work if you have turned on your location services and assigned invites to your friends who have agreed to track your movements.
2. Circle of 6
- Best for high school and college students.
- Send a distress message with just a tap on your phone
The 6 frame was designed with college and high school students in mind. With a friendly and easy-to-use interface, this application helps you or your children avoid difficult situations by assigning up to 6 friends of your choice. Two taps will send 3 predefined text messages to your friends. You can also schedule a fake interruption in the form of a phone call if you have a scary date. The app contains pre-programmed national hotline numbers and a local number that you can customize for campus security, police, or 911.
3. Kitestring
- No need to download an app
- Customize emergency alerts sent to your emergency contacts
If you don't want to download the actual app, Kitestring works by sending you a simple text message when you're on a date, outing, or meeting of some kind. If you don't respond, it will automatically send a personalized notification to your emergency contacts. You don't even need a smartphone to sign up.
4. Watch Over Me
- No action is needed. simply set a timer and schedule emergency contacts in advance
- Record a video with a simple movement of your phone
One of the first factors to consider when choosing a personal safety app is which app will be the easiest to use in a potential emergency. The Watch Over Me personal safety app works by setting a simple timer for any situation where you're nervous. During this time, your GPS is tracked and if you don't press the “I'm safe” button after turning on the timer, an alert is sent to your emergency contacts, including your exact location.
5. First Aid: American Red Cross
- Best for people with pre-existing medical conditions, as well as hikers and hikers.
- Access first aid manuals and safety resources even without WiFi
Whether you have a pre-existing health condition or are hiking, you could hardly do worse than the American Red Cross for resources and assistance. The First Aid app offers a number of features designed to help you in a medical emergency; You can contact EMS directly through the app, plus watch tons of videos, step-by-step first aid tips, and access preloaded safety information that works even when you don't have WiFi.
6. Silent Beacon
- Schedule friends, family or 911 as contacts
- Share your distress message with live GPS location
With Silent Beacon, you can personalize emergency contacts on your phone and notify them with a simple tap on the screen. Your contacts can be friends, family, or even the police, and you can easily change them depending on your location or situation. This simple and effective application shares a distress message in addition to your GPS. location so your contacts can quickly respond to emergency situations.
7. React Mobile
- A portable keychain lets you call for help even without accessing your phone
- Pre-program your own emergency contacts
As much as we love our smartphones, there are times when we will be without them and it is important to have a way to call for help in an emergency other than our trusty phones. The React Mobile app features a smart dongle that pairs with your phone's app via Bluetooth, so you can get help faster if your phone is locked or out of reach when you need help. In the event of an emergency, you can press a button on the device that immediately alerts your emergency contacts.
8. Hollaback!
- The best for those who walk alone in society.
- Submit photos of stalkers to a prevention site.
According to Hollaback!, between 80 and 90% of women have been harassed in public. Hollaback allows you to take and upload a “caught in the act” photo of your potential harassment and submit the story to be recorded and mapped at ihollaback.org.
9. Red Panic Button
- The best for social media users
- A quick and easy way to send disaster alerts to anyone in your social network
Personal safety is not just about protection from harassment or attackers. Recently, the need for emergency services during hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters is all too obvious. If you want your call for help to reach more people than your immediate emergency contacts, the Red Panic Button app allows you to send emergency text messages, but also connects to your social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook, and email. .
10. SafeTrek
- Best for solo hikers
- Contact local police
SafeTrek is another simple and easy to use program at this time. There is one feature: you press the button in the middle of the screen every time you feel insecure. Once you are safe again, press the 4-digit PIN number and if you do not enter this number, the app will automatically contact the local police.
Personal Safety is Worth the Cell Phone Space
Personal safety can be a difficult topic to address, but preparing for the risks and keeping a calm mind while outdoors is invaluable. Today, there are apps designed for solo travelers, night walkers, singles, college students, children, and more. With the click of a button or phone, you can send distress alerts to your contacts or authorities and get help before things escalate, which can make all the difference in the world.