Take control of your safety on campus with these 5 apps

Take control of your safety on campus with these 5 apps

There are several apps geared towards keeping college students safe on and around campus.
Published: September 25, 2019
iPhones showing the five safety apps

Among the various apps available for smartphone users, there are several that enable college students to rely on their phones for personal safety. Whether walking home from the library after a long night of studying or experiencing some Syracuse University nightlife, these five low-cost or entirely free apps have students covered when it comes to staying safe on and around campus.

These apps allow users to reach emergency services and friends to stay connected and informed when dangerous situations arise. They will also notify users and specified contacts in the event of an incident in the area. Wildfire, Circle of 6, LiveSafe and LifeLine Response are available on all iOS and Android devices; however, DrunkMode is only available to iPhone users.

The Wildfire app, designed by UC Berkeley grads, is a location-based platform to monitor events near you. It functions similar to Twitter, where users post messages and photos in trending topics such as Safety, Chatter, Tips, and Events. The app connects users to each other on a specified campus, rather than social media accounts, creating a network of informed and aware users within a certain location to alert anyone who may be affected.

Cost: Free

App Store Rating: 4.5/5

Google Play Rating: 3.8/5

 

Circle of 6

The Circle of 6 app allows users to reach out to close friends in a sticky situation. With just two phone clicks, users can send automated messages with their GPS locations, “call and pretend you need me” interruption texts and emergency messages. The under-the-table app is directed toward sexual violence and relationship abuse victims, and it’s equipped with buttons to reach national health and safety hotlines. Circle of 6 takes a few minutes to set up but works even if members of your circle do not use the app, making it a potential escape route for anyone looking to discreetly get out of unsafe situations.

Cost: Free

App Store Rating: 4.7/5

Not available through Google Play, but can be downloaded through a third party website.

LiveSafe

Recommended by SU’s Department of Public Safety, the LiveSafe app allows users to connect with nearby security forces. Users can report tips to the security organization tagged with specific categories such as car accidents, assaults, drug/alcohol instances, mental health emergencies, theft, vandalism and more. There are options to send the reports with images, videos, audio files and location markers and remain anonymous at the same time. The app also features emergency buttons to call 911 or DPS and maps to locate security outposts and medical facilities. The Safewalk feature allows your friends to track your progress when moving between locations.

Cost: Free

App Store Rating: 3.9/5

Google Play Rating: 3.8/5

LifeLine Response

Similar to Life Alert, the LifeLine Response app is an emergency alert system for mobile users. With Thumb Mode, users hold onto their phones in potentially dangerous situations like walking to your car in the dark. Releasing the screen sets off a loud alarm, calls the LifeLine Response team and texts emergency contacts. The Timer Mode does the same thing after a predetermined amount of time for hands-free safety. Just remember to disarm the app with a 4-digit pin when you are finished using LifeLine Response, so as to not call the police when you safely finish your evening run.

Cost: $5/month or $60/year after a 14-day free trial

App Store Rating: 4.7/5

Google Play Rating: 4.3/5

DrunkMode – Call Blocker

DrunkMode can help protect both your physical well-being and your dignity during a night out. The iPhone-only app lets users add friends to track their location and provides maps and directions for walking and public transit. There aren’t driving directions, which is an attempt to discourage drunk driving. When DrunkMode is activated, the app blocks specified contacts to prevent embarrassing drunk calls and messages to the wrong people. The Breadcrumb feature tracks your route throughout the night, so you know where you’ve been. The layout of the app is a bit confusing, so make sure you test it out before embarking on your fun but safe adventure.

Cost: Free

App Store Rating: 1.7/5

Similar App for Android: Drunk Locker, rated 4.0/5