Top Five Best Safety Apps for Running Alone
When running alone, it’s best to always alert someone of your whereabouts and to change up your route frequently. While we can do our best to take proper precautions, sometimes danger presents itself and we need to alert loved ones and law enforcement. These five apps can help you do just that, while helping you feel safer on your runs.
1. bSafe
bSafe gives you the comfort of friends and family even when you’re alone. This app is available for both iPhone and Android and allows friends to “follow” you with live GPS tracking. Once you arrive home safely, your friends will be notified. bSafe also allows users to make a fake phone call to get out of unpleasant situations, send a ten second video of your situation with a GPS location to your friends once you trigger an alarm, and to program a timer that will alert friends if you do not arrive to your intended location within a certain amount of time.
2. Bugle
Bugle is a free app that designed by Search and Rescue professionals, that allows you to leave your phone at home. Before you leave the house, enter where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone. If the user does not check in within the time limit, emergency contacts will be alerted via email and text. This app is currently free for iPhone only, but if you do not have an iPhone, HikerAlert.com offers similar services for only $4.99 per year!
3. SafeTrek
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you had to call 911 secretly? SafeTrek answers that question by providing a panic button on your phone. When you open the app, simply put your finger on the “Safe” button. When you feel unsafe, let go of the button and the police will be called and sent to your location via GPS services. If you decide that the police do not need to be called, just enter your four-digit pin number and nothing will happen.
This app is great if you are in a situation where you are unsure of your safety or need to call the police discreetly. SafeTrek is $2.99 per month and is available on both iTunes and Google Play.
4. Kitestring
Kitestring is a web-based application that works by sending SMS alerts to your phone. Where other apps are triggered by an action on the part of a user, Kitestring alerts your preselected emergency contacts to your lack of response. If you fail to respond to a Kitestring check-in within five minutes, SMS messages will be sent to your emergency contacts. Additionally, you can set duress codes and a check-in word, so the service will function regardless of if someone else takes control of your phone.
You can learn more about Kitestring by visiting its website at kitestring.io.
5. Send Help
Send Help is similar to SafeTrek in that it has a panic button function. However, Send Help does not contact law enforcement, but rather sends on SMS and email alerts to your preselected emergency contacts and posts your location on Facebook and Twitter. This broadens how many people will see your location and, as the name suggests, send help. Send Help is free for iPhone. Emergency Alert, a similar app, is available on Google Play.
While all of the apps listed above are primarily intended to send for help if someone is following you or worse, they can also be used in case of a fall, if you are hit by a car, or otherwise injured.
Lee J. Odierno is the managing partner of Odienero Law’s no-fault department. Find out more about Lee on his profile page, or visit any of his social media profiles below: