Great Safety Apps That Students Can Download to Their Phones

While the statistics are alarming, there are things students can do to keep themselves safe, such as utilizing smartphone safety apps.

Today�s college students are more connected to their mobile devices than ever. According to an eMarketer report, by 2016 91 percent of students will have a smartphone. While many students utilize their smartphones for texting, surfing the web, and entertainment purposes, it is important that students realize the personal safety assistance that smartphone safety apps can offer as well.

Why should students care?

Consider the statistics:

• More than 1 in 4 college women are sexually assaulted.
• 1 of every 22 college students will experience a crime during their time at school.

While the statistics are alarming, there are things students can do to keep themselves safe, such as utilizing smartphone safety apps. Smartphone apps are great tools for students because they are easily accessible and put useful, typically free, resources right at their fingertips.

Reduce your risk and have constant security and assistance with the following student safety apps.

• 

  Circle of 6

  �A free safety app that prevents violence before it happens�
  Available for iPhone & Android

  This student app allows users to create a group (circle) of six contacts of their choice. If you lose track of your friends, are traveling alone, or want to alert someone that you are in a dangerous situation, this app will send a message with a map and GPS location of where you are to your circle and the local emergency units.

• 

  Guardly

  �The fastest way to connect to authorities, family & friends, when you need help.�
  Available for iPhone, Android, Blackberry & Windows Phone

  This safety app provides real-time emergency incident monitoring and communication. It acts as an instant two-way communication with safety groups, local authorities and nearby security. One special feature that this student app offers is that it allows you to set up specific types of emergency situations such as allergy emergencies or traveling alone situations as well as accompanying contacts to be notified for each type of incident.

• 

  bSafe

  �Turns your cellphone into the ultimate safety app.�
  Available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry (beta)

  This safety app is a mobile-based safety alarm. Upon downloading the app, a red button will appear on the phone screen. When the red button is pressed, a siren will go off, a video recording will start, and the emergency contacts that you chose (which can include 911), will be alerted with a message of your GPS location and the recorded video.

• 

  Panic Guard

  �Safety fast.�
  Available for iPhone & Android

  Similar to the bSafe app, this student app also tracks your location, alerts police and your previously selected contacts, and secretly records your attacker. This app differs in that it can be activated through tapping and also shaking the phone. It also continues to track your location so that if you leave the original scene, emergency authorities will know your current location.

• 

  On Watch

  �The award-winning personal safety app for college students.�
  Available for iPhone & Android

  This safety app was created specifically for college students. It offers six customizable alert options that allow you to notify friends, family, local police or 911 via text, email, phone call or Facebook. This app also offers a �watch my back� service that allows you to set a timer for a certain amount of time. When the allotted time is up, if you do not turn off the timer, your chosen contacts will be alerted of your GPS location.