When you think about using your iPad, you probably think about all of the fun apps that you can choose, the music that you can listen to, the movies that you can watch and the games that you can play. You might also tend to use your iPad for work-related reasons so that you can keep in touch with business contacts when you are on the go, get online and use various applications that help you keep up with all of your business-related work. One thing that you might not think about using your iPad for, however, is for personal security. However, there are a few iPad applications that you can use that can help you feel safe and secure all the time, no matter where you are.
Should You Use Your iPad for Personal Security?
Although you might try to be careful and stay in safe situations, you never know when something could happen. Unfortunately, muggings and other similar crimes happen more than people like to think, and you could get seriously harmed during one of these attacks. This means that you should always do what you can to keep yourself safe.
In today’s world, using an iPad or other similar device is a great way to keep yourself safe and secure. Since you probably have your iPad on hand most of the time, you don’t have to worry about carrying around something extra to protect yourself. A lot of people wouldn’t expect for you to use your iPad for this purpose, either, so it could take your attacker by surprise while providing you with a great way to protect yourself in a bad situation. Therefore, if you have an iPad already and carry it around with you on a regular basis, it is definitely a good idea for you to invest in a personal safety and security application or two. Doing so is typically free or very affordable, and this simple app could actually save your life later on down the line.
What if You Don’t Have an iPad?
Obviously, not everyone has an iPad. If you want to, you could always invest in one; not only will you be able to benefit from the security applications on the device in order to keep yourself safe, but you can also reap other benefits as well. Many iPad users now wonder how they ever got by without their device, and you can use your new iPad for a whole host of things that aren’t related to security at all, such as to get online, get your homework or work done or to entertain yourself on a road trip or on an airplane with various games and more.
If purchasing an iPad just isn’t in your budget, you shouldn’t worry; there are still ways that you can keep yourself safe. For instance, you can often download the same applications for an iPhone as you would for an iPad, so you can use your iPhone, or even another Apple device, such as an iPod touch, for many of these applications. Tablets and other devices that use Android technology also have applications available for them that provide similar services, so consider looking for applications for your existing device as well.
How Much Should You Trust Your Security iPad Applications?
Once you install useful iPad applications on your device that specialize in personal security, you can rest at ease knowing that you have taken special precautions in order to keep yourself safe. Make sure that you always keep your device close to you when you can so that you can use these applications in the event that you need them, and make sure that you don’t panic and forget about them in a bad situation.
However, even if you do have these personal security apps on your handy device, you should still take other steps to keep yourself safe. Following a few basic tips can help you stay safe and secure in nearly any situation.
• Don’t go out at night alone, regardless of if you are male or female. Being in a dark parking lot or dark alley can put you at a greater risk of being attacked, but there is safety in numbers. If you do find yourself out and about in the evening hours, look for a buddy who can accompany you so that you can keep each other safe.
• Always let someone know where you are going to be and the approximate time that you will be home. By letting your neighbor, a parent or a friend know that you are heading out and telling them the time that you should be returning, people will know to start looking for you if you don’t get back home around the time that you said you would.
• Don’t be afraid to call someone and let them know that you are in a potentially scary situation. Letting someone know that you don’t feel safe somewhere can allow them to send someone out to check on you; at the very least, someone who is cloes to you will know when and where to start looking if they don’t hear from you later.
• Consider bringing along something that you can use for personal security, such as a whistle or pepper spray. These items can be picked up very cheaply and are easy to use, yet they can provide you with added safety if something goes awry.
• Don’t be afraid to ask someone to walk you to your car. It isn’t safe to walk in a dark and quiet parking lot by yourself, so ask a security guard, co-worker or friend to escort you to your vehicle in the evening hours.
• Try to avoid areas that are known for being dangerous or for having a lot of crime. Although crime can happen anywhere, it is still a good idea to avoid areas where it is more prevalent.
• Contact the police or other authorities in your area if you feel like you need to. That is what they are there for; to protect and serve people.
Try Apps That Offer Alarms
Being able to emit a loud signal when you are in a potentially dangerous situation is one good way to let people nearby know that you need assistance. Although a whistle or other similar item can work well for this purpose, one great option is to download an application on your iPad that will allow you to press a button in order to emit a loud signal.
One such app is available for free, and it is known as “My Panic Alarm.” This application allows you to press a button on your iPad or iPhone in order to set off an alarm, which is very loud. Along with emitting a loud panic signal, the application also causes your screen to light up in lots of different colors, which can work to help alert someone to your situation. Although this particular application might not work well if you are in a deserted area, it can definitely be a good way to signal that you need help to those who are around you in a busier area. Since the application is free, there is no reason not to download it because you never know when you might need it.
Other applications that are similar are also available for iPads and other Apple devices, and you can also look for panic alarm applications for Android devices. In most cases, these applications can be downloaded onto your device for free, and those that do charge a fee do not charge a significant one.
Alert the Authorities with Apps
An even better step to take in many situations is to use an application that will automatically alert the authorities for you. This makes it easy to contact the authorities and let them know where you are without you having to worry about whipping out your phone and making a phone call during a serious situation.
One application that offers this capability is the SOS iEmergency application for Apple devices. This application offers several panic buttons that you can press during the appropriate emergency. For instance, you can press a “Medical” button if you need medical assistance, such as if you get into a car accident or fall somewhere and get hurt, and there is also a “Crime” button that you can press if you happen to witness a crime, are about to be attacked by someone or if someone has just committed a crime against you. You can even press a button to alert the local fire department in the event of a fire.
This application does several things for you when you are in an emergency situation so that you won’t have to worry about doing these things yourself. In many places, the application will automatically notify your local authorities to let them know what is going on, and it will even send GPS coordinates of your location so that the authorities can send help to your exact location. It can also send e-mail and text messages to people that you program in the app to contact; for instance, you might want to put in a family member and a spouse’s contact information so that your loved ones can be alerted in the event that you are in trouble and need assistance. Then, even if your local authorities are unable to accept messages from the application, your loved ones can get in contact with them right away and let them know where you are.
Although this application isn’t free, it’s definitely worth the cost if you want to keep yourself safe. The cost is minimal; it only costs a couple of dollars, and it can be helpful in a wide range of emergencies. Not only can you use it to contact people for help quickly and easily if you have been mugged or another crime has been committed against you, but you can also easily get the assistance that you need if you somehow get hurt, get into a car accident or if you witness a fire.
Let Everyone Know Where You Are With Apps
Sometimes it is a good idea to let the people who you know and care about know where you are, especially in an emergency situation, but this isn’t always easy to do. Thanks to some of the applications that are available on the market today, however, you can quickly and easily do so by pressing a couple of buttons on your iPad or other similar device.
For instance, some applications will send an “SOS” message out to the numbers that you predetermine; in most cases, you will probably want this to be a couple of your loved ones. In this message, your loved ones will be notified that you are in need of help, and the message will even let them know exactly where you are so that they will know where to go to give you assistance. Some of these applications will take it even further by snapping a couple of quick photos and sending them along with your “help” message, and others will even update your statuses on Facebook, Twitter and other social media website alerting people of where you are and that you need assistance. Since the more people that know that you are in trouble and who know where you are can make it easier for you to get the help that you need quickly, these applications can be very valuable.
Although most of these applications are not available for free, you should still consider purchasing them. Spending a few bucks now and updating the settings and contact information in these applications can come in handy one day later on down the road when you find yourself in trouble, and you are sure to be glad that you had this application on hand when you are able to get the help that you need in a bad situation.