We live in a world where personal safety is not 100 percent guaranteed. Anything could happen when you are out on a run or walking home from work or a night out. Luckily, with a smartphone in hand, you can increase your chances of staying safe at all times. Here are 5 apps that you can use for your personal safety:
bSafe You
This is a personal safety app with the following features:
It creates a social safety network of people who are alerted during an emergency or when the user is feeling unsafe. This app also lets users invite friends to track their movement via GPS and it also quickly sends location information to friends. Additionally, the app has a timer which is set to send an alert to friends if the user does not return on time to turn it off or make a fake call to their smartphone to interrupt the alert.
During an emergency, you can send an alert to friends inclusive of location details. There is also the option of whether to have a loud or a silent alarm.
This app has a basic free version and it is available for Android and iOS.
The cons
Invites sent to friends are not always accepted or are accepted but they do not create an account.
Bugle
This app was developed with the contribution of search and rescue pros. This app was made for iPhone users. If you are a hiker, runner, or cyclist and you prefer not to carry your phone when you are out; this is an ideal app for you. Here is how it works:
Before heading out for your run, you are required to set where you will be running and how long you will take. This way, if you do not check in within the set time, the app will alert your emergency contacts via text and email.
This is app can also be used by people going out on a blind date, getting together with someone you met on a Craigslist advert, or any other situation where you are meeting up with a stranger and you know how long the meeting will take.
This is a free app that you can get on iTunes.
SafeTrek
This is a safety app that alerts the police when you are unsafe. This is how it works:
When you are in trouble, you are supposed to open the app and hold the safe button. If you let go of the safe button, the app asks you for a four-digit code. If you fail to enter it, the police are alerted.
This app is ideal for situations where you are not sure if it is time to notify the police. However, if it does get serious, you can notify the police in a discreet way.
This is a free app available on Google Play and iTunes.
Watch Over Me
The co-founder of this app, Xin-Ci Chin, experienced a traumatic abduction that motivated her to develop this app. This is how it works:
This app has an automated tracking system that enables you to track your movements once you begin questioning your safety.
To get started, you will pick an activity such as running then you will set the approximate amount of time it will take you to complete it. The app will then keep track of you until you check-in. if you don’t check-in, the app will send an alert to your emergency contacts with your location details. This app also features an option of “shake to alarm” which sends alerts and activates the camera to document the events taking place.
This app also warns you when you are going into a crime-prone area by using crowd-sourced crime information. This enables you to take precautionary measures. You can also report a crime you have witnessed and warn others of possible dangers.
The free basic version of this app is available for iOS. This version has 20-minutes of tracking, a single emergency contact, and emergency texts to email and Facebook.
React Mobile
This is how the app works:
When you activate the app, it uses the GPS on your smartphone to track you. you can launch the app as you leave your car or when going out for a jog.
When you are in trouble, you can use the app to send an alert to your emergency contacts in a discreet way. The alert is sent through email, SMS, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also tap the shield to call 911. To cancel the alert, you will need to enter the code 5555.
This app also gives you the option of posting to Twitter or Facebook and of having friends and family follow you in real-time. There is also an option of how long you want them to follow you. Once you get to your destination safely, you simply tape the “I’m safe button”. This app also features a map for showing your location.
This is a free app that is available for Android and iOS.
