Most of us have, at some point, walked alone in a park at night and developed hypothetical protection strategies in case something bad happens. Personal safety apps. While it’s good to be aware of our surroundings, it’s better to be prepared.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed a shocking statistic: 44% of women reported experiencing some form of sexual assault in their lifetime. Personal safety is no laughing matter, and it doesn’t just discriminate against women. Men and women, children and adults, can all be victims of harassment and assault. Fortunately, the tech boom has given us more than just games and social media; there are also a variety of apps and technologies that can actually keep us safer.

The rise of GPS and other location-based technologies has led to the emergence of new and innovative personal safety apps. But with so many options, how do you know which one to download?

Common Emergencies and the 10 Apps that Can Help

While all of the apps on our list are designed for personal safety, some are more suited to certain situations than others. Below are some of the most common emergencies people face in their daily lives. It’s worth considering the dangers you’re likely to encounter and then choosing the app that best fits the situation.

Street Harassment

In 2014, a video of an innocent woman walking in New York City went viral after a disturbing number of men harassed her while she was going 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 helpful when your personal space is being invaded by public places.

Parties and Social Gatherings

When we think about personal safety, we don’t always consider the different ways in which we can feel unsafe. Unfortunately, the danger often stems from family circumstances. Of the child victims of sexual assault reported to authorities, 93% knew their attacker, about 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 where you’ll be attending with close, trusted friends.

Medical Emergencies

Your personal safety may also include potential medical conditions, such as epilepsy, allergies, or a risk of stroke. You may find yourself in a situation where talking to emergency services on the phone puts you in danger. First Aid. It’s worth consulting with the American Red Cross and Noonlight if you have a medical condition that could occur anywhere and needs to be notified to emergency services so they can access first aid manuals.

Personal safety for kids

Your kids will undoubtedly have a very different high school experience than yours, and with the pressure of having a smartphone at a young age, today’s kids are more commercially exploited than you were. Unfortunately, kids may not know how to react and cope with certain uncomfortable situations, which is why personal safety apps are especially important for young children. Check out Circle of 6 and Red Panic Button if you want to arm your kids with a reliable and easy-to-use safety app.

Natural Disasters

Personal safety isn’t just about protecting yourself from stalking or attackers. The need for emergency services during hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters has become increasingly apparent in recent times. If you want your call for help to reach more than just your immediate emergency contacts, the Red Panic Button app lets you send emergency messages and connect to your social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and email. Tweeting during a potential disaster may seem overwhelming, but a simple tweet helped save a nursing home during Hurricane Harvey.

Here’s our list of the Top 10 Best Personal Safety Apps for 2022:

1. bSafe

Ideal for solo hikes or social events.
“
Follow Me” live streaming is ideal for parents.
Live streaming to your caregiver or contacts.
Your personal safety isn’t black and white. Maybe you’re on a date and feeling a little unsafe, or at a friend’s party and feeling a little uncomfortable. The bSafe app has a “Follow Me” live map feature, as well as voice-activated tools, automatic recordings, and even live streaming, plus an SOS button that will alert your contacts when you’re in danger. In addition, bSafe can make fake calls asking you to get up from the table and leave an uncomfortable situation. Like most of these personal safety apps, bSafe only works if you’ve enabled your location services and invited friends who have agreed to track your movements.

2. Circle of 6

Ideal for high school and college students.
Send a distress message with just one tap on your phone.
Circle of 6 was designed for high school and college students. With an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, this app helps you or your kids avoid awkward situations by designating up to 6 friends of your choice. With two taps, you’ll send three pre-defined text messages to your friends. You can also schedule a fake interruption in the form of a phone call if you have an awkward meeting. The app comes with 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 the app
Customize emergency notifications sent to your emergency contacts
If you don’t want to download the app, Kitestring will send you a simple text message when you have a meeting, outing, or appointment. If you don’t respond, a personalized notification will automatically be sent to your emergency contacts. You don’t even need a smartphone to sign up.

4. Watch Over Me

No action required. Simply set a timer and pre-program emergency contacts.
Record a video with a simple gesture on your phone.
One of the first factors to consider when choosing a personal safety app is which one is easiest to use in a potential emergency. The Watch Over Me app works by setting a simple timer for any situation that is making you anxious. During this time, your GPS is tracked, and if you don’t press the “I’m Safe” button after the timer is activated, an alert will be sent to your emergency contacts, including your exact location.

5. First Aid: American Red Cross

Ideal for people with pre-existing health conditions, as well as mountaineers and hikers.
Access first aid manuals and safety resources even without Wi-Fi.
Whether you have a pre-existing health condition or are hiking, the American Red Cross is your best bet for resources and help. The First Aid app offers several features designed to help you in medical emergencies. You can contact emergency medical services (EMS) directly from the app, as well as watch a variety of videos, step-by-step first aid tips, and access preloaded safety information that works even without Wi-Fi

6. Silent Beacon

Program your friends, family, or 911 as contacts
Share your SOS message with real-time GPS location
With Silent Beacon, you can customize your phone’s emergency contacts and notify them with a simple tap. 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 app shares your SOS message in addition to your GPS location so your contacts can quickly respond to emergencies.

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 don’t have them, and it’s important to have a way to call for help in an emergency besides our trusty phone. The React Mobile app has a smart adapter that connects to your phone app via Bluetooth so you can get help faster if your phone is locked or inaccessible when you need it. In an emergency, you can press a button on the device that immediately notifies your emergency contacts.

8. Hollaback!

Ideal for those who find themselves alone in public.
Send photos of stalkers to a prevention center.

According to Hollaback!, 80-90% of women have been subjected to public harassment. Hollaback allows you to take and upload photos of your potential harassment “at the scene” and submit the story to be recorded and mapped on ihollaback.org.

9. Red Panic Button

Ideal 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 protecting yourself from harassment or abuse. The need for emergency services during hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters has become increasingly apparent. If you want your call for help to reach more than just your immediate contacts, the Red Panic Button app lets you send emergency messages as well as connect to your social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and email.

10. SafeTrek

Ideal for solo hikers
Contact local police

SafeTrek is another simple and easy-to-use app. It has one function: press the button in the center of the screen when you feel unsafe. When you feel safe, press a 4-digit PIN code, and if you don’t enter it, the app will automatically contact local police.

Personal Safety is Worth the Cell Phone Space

Personal safety can be a difficult topic to address, but being prepared for risks and staying calm in the wild are invaluable. Today, there are apps designed for solo hikers, night hikers, singles, college students, children, and more. With just a single button or tap on your phone, you can send disaster alerts to your contacts or authorities and get help before the situation escalates, which can make a big difference in the world.