Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, May 8, 2015

Safety first


Do It Yourself



April Sherrill

This week was full of chaos in my household so the project I was hoping to share is incomplete. Sigh. Therefore, instead of a DIY project this week I want to bring attention to what I feel is the single best app ever created for smartphones.

About two weeks ago, I was visiting with a group of homeschooling moms and one of them mentioned a new app they downloaded on their phone for when they go jogging. Since we are either at home or around town all day with kids in tow, this particular app caught my attention. 

Let me share a little tidbit of information before I get into talking about the app. I am not a huge smartphone person. I just last year purchased a smartphone – yes I was that person still using the old school phones. To this day, my husband and I do not allow our smartphones to take up our time. This is absolutely the first app I have ever asked someone to download.

 I live in a large city where crime is substantial, so feeling safe is of utmost importance, not only for myself, but for my husband’s sanity as well. I am in no way associated with this company and all views and opinions concluded are solely my own.

SafeTrek is an app that provides safety to you, when you find yourself in a vulnerable situation or true emergency and are in need of help. This app is very user friendly and explains how everything works extremely well.

After the app finishes downloading, your phone will prompt you to enable location services. This is how responders know where the phone is located. Once downloaded, you will enter basic information such as: name, phone number, and a personal pin number.

Once completed, the app will guide you thru four small steps on how to use this safety feature. The app revolves around the teal blue button located on the main screen of the app. If you feel unsafe at any time: walking, running, feel you are being followed, etc., simply hold the teal button down until you feel safe. While the button is being held down, it will turn red. Once, the button is released the app will ask you to enter the four digit pin number you created in the beginning.

 SafeTrek allows ten seconds for the pin to be entered, which is plenty of time if there is not an emergency; however, if you fail to enter the pin number in the required ten seconds, the app will automatically dispatch the police to the location. Rest assured, before I presented this information to you, I tested it myself. This app truly delivers everything it states. 

If and when you use the feature and for some reason you are not able to key in the pin, the responders not only dispatch the police with the information needed, but they will also start calling and texting you. I simply stated it was an accident when testing and they cancelled the dispatch for me.

If you are the type of person who is constantly watching your surroundings when you are out alone like me, then I cannot think of a better reason to own a smartphone and this app.

I love being outdoors during the day with my kids no matter where we go or where our day takes us, and now knowing I have this feature on my phone, that is proven to work, it puts my husband and me more at ease.

SafeTrek costs a re-occurring payment of $2.99 a month, which is a solid investment for safety and peace of mind. Research the app and read the outstanding reviews of the many people who, unfortunately, have had to actually use it. There are rave reviews on how the app helped their situation. I love it just from the test run, and I am confident you will too. As my younger daughter always says, “safety first!”

April Sherrill is a staff writer for the Hamilton County Herald. Contact her at april@dailydata.com.  

This week was full of chaos in my household so the project I was hoping to share is incomplete. Sigh. Therefore, instead of a DIY project this week I want to bring attention to what I feel is the single best app ever created for smartphones.

About two weeks ago, I was visiting with a group of homeschooling moms and one of them mentioned a new app they downloaded on their phone for when they go jogging. Since we are either at home or around town all day with kids in tow, this particular app caught my attention. 

Let me share a little tidbit of information before I get into talking about the app. I am not a huge smartphone person. I just last year purchased a smartphone – yes I was that person still using the old school phones. To this day, my husband and I do not allow our smartphones to take up our time. This is absolutely the first app I have ever asked someone to download.

 I live in a large city where crime is substantial, so feeling safe is of utmost importance, not only for myself, but for my husband’s sanity as well. I am in no way associated with this company and all views and opinions concluded are solely my own.

SafeTrek is an app that provides safety to you, when you find yourself in a vulnerable situation or true emergency and are in need of help. This app is very user friendly and explains how everything works extremely well.

After the app finishes downloading, your phone will prompt you to enable location services. This is how responders know where the phone is located. Once downloaded, you will enter basic information such as: name, phone number, and a personal pin number.

Once completed, the app will guide you thru four small steps on how to use this safety feature. The app revolves around the teal blue button located on the main screen of the app. If you feel unsafe at any time: walking, running, feel you are being followed, etc., simply hold the teal button down until you feel safe. While the button is being held down, it will turn red. Once, the button is released the app will ask you to enter the four digit pin number you created in the beginning.

 SafeTrek allows ten seconds for the pin to be entered, which is plenty of time if there is not an emergency; however, if you fail to enter the pin number in the required ten seconds, the app will automatically dispatch the police to the location. Rest assured, before I presented this information to you, I tested it myself. This app truly delivers everything it states. 

If and when you use the feature and for some reason you are not able to key in the pin, the responders not only dispatch the police with the information needed, but they will also start calling and texting you. I simply stated it was an accident when testing and they cancelled the dispatch for me.

If you are the type of person who is constantly watching your surroundings when you are out alone like me, then I cannot think of a better reason to own a smartphone and this app.

I love being outdoors during the day with my kids no matter where we go or where our day takes us, and now knowing I have this feature on my phone, that is proven to work, it puts my husband and me more at ease.

SafeTrek costs a re-occurring payment of $2.99 a month, which is a solid investment for safety and peace of mind. Research the app and read the outstanding reviews of the many people who, unfortunately, have had to actually use it. There are rave reviews on how the app helped their situation. I love it just from the test run, and I am confident you will too. As my younger daughter always says, “safety first!”

April Sherrill is a staff writer for the Hamilton County Herald. Contact her at april@dailydata.com v