Most of us have, at some point, walked alone in a park at night and developed hypothetical defense 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 discriminate against women. Men and women, children and adults, can 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 creation 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 might encounter, then choosing the app that’s most appropriate for that 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, danger often stems from familiar circumstances. Of child victims of sexual assault reported to authorities, 93% knew their attacker; 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 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 the American Red Cross and Noonlight if you have a medical condition that could occur anywhere, and you should notify emergency services so they can access first aid manuals.
Personal safety for kids
Your kids will undoubtedly have a very different experience in high school than you did, 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 intruders or aggressors. 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 contacts, the Red Panic Button app lets you send emergency messages as well as connect to your social media accounts like Twitter, Facebook, and email. Tweeting during a potential disaster may seem overwhelming, but one 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 broadcast to your caregiver or contacts.
Your personal safety isn’t black and white. You might be on a date and feeling a little awkward, or at a friend’s party and feeling that awkwardness. The bSafe app has a live map “Follow Me” feature, as well as voice-activated tools, automatic recordings, and even live streaming, plus an SOS button that will notify your contacts when you’re in danger. bSafe can also make fake calls that will ask you to get up from the table and leave an uncomfortable situation. Like most personal safety apps, bSafe only works if you have location services enabled and have invited friends who have agreed to track your movements.
2. Circle of 6
- Ideal for high school and college students.
- Send a distress message to your phone with just one tap.
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 six friends of your choice. With two taps, three pre-defined text messages will be sent to your friends. You can also schedule a fake phone call if you’re on an inconvenient date. 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
- Nothing is required. Simply set a timer and pre-program your 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 nervous. During this time, your GPS is tracked, and if you don’t press the “I’m Safe” button after the timer has started, a notification 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.
- Access first aid guides and safety resources even without Wi-Fi.
Whether you have a pre-existing health condition or are heading out on a mountain hike, the American Red Cross is the best source for resources and help. The First Aid app offers a variety of features designed to help you in a medical emergency. You can instantly contact emergency medical services through the app, as well as watch a variety of videos, step-by-step first aid tips, and access pre-loaded safety information that works even without Wi-Fi.
6. Silent Beacon
- Plan contacts for friends, family, or 911.
- Share your disaster message with your real-time GPS location.
With Silent Alert, you can set up emergency contacts on your phone and notify them with a simple tap of 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 app shares your GPS location along with a disaster message so your contacts can quickly respond to emergencies.
7. React Mobile
- A wearable keychain lets you call for help even without access to 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 other than our phone. The React Mobile app has a smart adapter that connects to your phone’s app via Bluetooth so you can get help faster if your phone is locked or out of range when you need it. In an emergency, you can press a button on the device to immediately notify your emergency contacts.
8. Hollaback!
- Perfect for those who feel socially isolated.
- It sends photos of harassers to a prevention website.
According to Hollaback!, 80-90% of women have been harassed in public. Hollaback allows you to take and upload photos of your potential harassment “in the act” and submit your story to be recorded and mapped on ihollaback.org.
9. Red Panic Button
- Perfect for social media users
- A quick and easy way to send disaster alerts to anyone on your social media.
Personal safety is not just about protecting yourself from harassment or aggressors. 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 allows you to send emergency messages as well as connect to your social networks, such as Twitter, Facebook, and email.
10. SafeTrek
- Ideal for solo hikers
- Contact local police
SafeTrek is another simple and easy-to-use app that’s now available. It has one function: you tap a button in the center of the screen when you feel unsafe. When you feel safe, you tap a 4-digit PIN, 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 outdoors are important. Today, there are apps designed for solo travelers, night hikers, singles, college students, children, and more. With just a tap of a button or your phone, you can send disaster alerts to your contacts or authorities and get help before the situation gets worse, which can make a big difference.
