Smartphone App Provides Extra Safety to Students on Campus

Parents worried about the well being of their college freshman or upperclassman on campus this fall can look into a phone application that utilizes mobile GPS technology and turns it into a safety feature. 

StreetSafe is a paid service that offers safety options that connect the user with 911 services or a 24-hour call center.

Students can tap into the StreetSafe Walk With Me service and talk to an off-duty officer as they walk from one place to another on campus. The officer can notify emergency personnel if the situation becomes unsafe, according to the StreetSafe website.

The user can also activate a silent alarm on their phone if he or she should run into danger. Activating the alarm sends the StreetSafe profile of the user along with their location to the proper authorities.

The StreetSafe profile provides the name, description and age to authorities. The app works on Android devices, BlackBerry, Windows Phones and iPhones.

Here are some other, free safety tips from StreetSafe for students heading to college campuses this fall:

1. Let friends or roommates know where you are going, who you are with and when to expect you home.

2. Never leave outside doors propped open, and don’t let strangers into secured buildings or residence halls.

3. A stranger is still a stranger, even if they are a fellow student. Do not accept a ride or go off somewhere alone with a person you don’t know.

4. Do not drink in excess.  When you do so, your ability to make decisions becomes impaired, making you an easy target.

5. When approaching your car or residence, have your keys in your hand and check the area for suspicious individuals or activity.

6. When walking by yourself, keep expensive belongings such as laptops hidden.  You will be less of a target.

7. The beaten path is the better path. Do not take short cuts and familiarize yourself with the area before heading out.

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