5 Must-Have Features in Your Personal Safety & Emergency Alert App

Contents:

1. Personal Emergency Response System vs. Personal Safety & Emergency Alert App
2. 5 Features to Look for in Personal Safety & Emergency Alert Apps
3. AllsWell Alert as Your Personal Safety & Emergency Response System

 

If you are reading this, you’ve probably decided to get a personal safety or personal emergency alert app. Whether you are looking for a medical alert system for your own needs or seeking to protect your loved ones, the app choice is a responsible step. Its features and capabilities define the overall effectiveness of personal emergency alerts.

The wrong personal emergency response system or alert app may fail at a critical moment. Imagine your mother with multiple sclerosis has fallen and tries to call emergency services but cannot press the panic button. Since every year, one out of four US older adults falls, it can happen to anyone. There are also heart attacks, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and other dangers, like burglary, physical abuse, or robbery, that require instant action.

Although you cannot prevent these dreadful events, you can get better prepared for them. A multi-functional personal emergency response system or app offers several ways to ask for help in critical situations. Inactivity monitoring, panic button, emergency contacts are just a few of them. For other must-have features of personal emergency alerts apps, continue with our post.

We hope our tips will enable you to pick the best personal safety & emergency alert app and keep your peace of mind.

Personal Emergency Response System vs. Personal Safety & Emergency Alert App

Since people often confuse personal emergency response systems vs. personal safety & emergency alert apps and their features, let’s clarify the difference.

A personal emergency response system (PERS) is a device that enables users to call an emergency by pushing a button. It consists of a wearable radio transmitter, a console base station connected to a mobile phone, and a response center that receives calls. Users wear small transmitters on their belts or in pockets to quickly press the panic button when something threatens their lives. When the personal emergency response system’s button is activated, the transmitter triggers the console, and it automatically dials the necessary emergency services. Then, the call center employees decide how to respond to the alert from the personal emergency response system.

Today many personal emergency response systems are automated and lightweight. Nevertheless, they still rely on specialized devices to operate. Hence, to be considered quality, PERS must be water-resistant, support cellular networks countrywide, have a long battery life, portable base unit, and other tech characteristics.

When it comes to personal emergency alert apps, the requirements are different. Personal safety & emergency alert apps are mobile applications that allow users to ask for help in real-time with their smartphones. After mobile personal emergency alerts are installed, the smartphone displays the panic button and can automatically dial the pre-programmed number when triggered. No extra devices are needed. An iOS or Android app and an average smartphone are enough to send personal emergency alerts. The more features such applications support, the more options you have in risky situations.

Since personal safety & emergency alert apps are outliving personal emergency response systems, we’ll focus on apps in our article. Mobile personal emergency alerts are more versatile and can help in a broader range of situations.

5 Features to Look for in Personal Safety & Emergency Alert Apps

Based on the personal emergency alert apps available on the market, we’ve singled out several must-have features. Ideally, you should pick an app that combines them all.

Personal Safety & Emergency Alerts Feature #1. Personalized Settings

The needs of a 35-year-old woman traveling alone and her 80+ parents vary. Whereas she may activate a personal emergency alert app in case of robbery, the older adults use it for continuous monitoring. The emergency messages sent and the people they reach also differ. That’s why custom settings are so crucial in personal emergency alert apps. They allow customizing the content of alerts, emergency contacts, triggers, and other relevant details.

When you can change settings, a single personal emergency alert app becomes a universal solution for your own safety and the safety of the people you love.

Personal Safety & Emergency Alerts Feature #2. GPS Tracking

When you choose a medical alert or safety app, make sure it tracks GPS location. Without it, emergency contacts won’t be able to find you even if they receive alerts.

GPS tracking in medical alert devices and applications allows relatives or emergency services to see where the person in need is located. They can quickly reach their destination and provide the necessary help. When an emergency hits, every second matters. Therefore, GPS capabilities are essential.

Personal Safety & Emergency Alerts Feature #3. Panic Button

Panic buttons are present in most personal emergency alert apps. It’s a red button that appears on the smartphone screen after the app installation. When a user wants to inform someone about a medical emergency, crime, or any other risk, they just tap the button. The phone instantly dials the emergency contacts through cellular service or sends them alerts. The emergency numbers are selected in the settings of the personal emergency alert app.

Panic buttons are particularly helpful when a smartphone owner needs urgent help. They can save your life in a robbery, physical abuse, or acute health problems if you are still conscious. So if you want an app or home system for risky situations, a panic button must be among the primary features.

Personal Safety & Emergency Alerts Feature #4. Inactivity Monitoring

Sometimes, a panic button is not enough. For example, when the phone is not always around, you are prone to fainting or may be unable to reach the panic button. A personal emergency alert app must offer inactivity monitoring to protect you and your loved ones in such situations.

Inactivity monitoring is a feature that tracks smartphone owner’s interactions with a mobile device. A click, a tap, an unlock, or any other activity means that the person is alive and intact. At the same time, if the user remains inactive for too long, something may be wrong with them. Then, the application automatically alerts emergency contacts.

The primary user is free to customize the period of inactivity and contact numbers. You can indicate that the person remains inactive at night but has to show some activity from 12 AM to 8 PM at least once.

Inactivity monitoring is an excellent addition to a panic button. These features complement each other and make you protected in all possible situations.

Personal Safety & Emergency Alerts Feature #5. 24/7 Support

That’s an obvious must-have. Bad things can happen at any time. Hence, if you want a personal emergency alert app with customer service support, make sure it’s 24/7. This way, the support guys will process an emergency request within the shortest time and send help to your place.

Note that for applications based on automated alerts, live support is optional. Your friends, family, or emergency services will get notified automatically regardless of the time.

AllsWell Alert as Your Personal Safety & Emergency Response System

AllsWell Alert is a personal safety & emergency alert app for people living, commuting, or traveling alone. It combines the panic button functionality with inactivity monitoring, enabling the app to send your emergency contact an alert with your location even when you’re unable to press a button.

It’s a universal personal emergency alert app that has both a panic button and inactivity monitoring. AllsWell Alert automatically sends alerts with GPS coordinates to emergency contacts based on custom settings. For just a $9.99 monthly fee, you can enjoy full access to all features.

Try AllsWell for a month now with no activation fee to see how it works.