These apps promise safety at the simple click of an alert button
Technology has made it easier than ever to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. There are a number of apps on the market that can alert someone in an emergency just pick the right one for your needs. By
“T ell me when you’re home” is somewhat of a South African standard in a country where crime statistics caution one to bump up one’s safety game. A variety of apps promise to make this a little easier.
Most of the apps and services in this space focus on sending alerts to emergency responders and personal contacts such as friends and family.
The SAFER app, for instance, calls emergency assistance and can send out a user’s location and video content to a list of chosen contacts at the push of a button or shake of a phone. It has a particular focus on its female users, since they send out most alerts.
A popular favourite is Namola, which has been running since 2017. It has various community and neighbourhood features for sharing safety-related information, as well as an emergency assistance function, including for mental health and gender-based violence incidents.
Claire Sherwell, head of customer experience
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and communications at Namola, says that having a middleman between users and responders streamlines the process. “We take the complication out of getting emergency assistance, which in a country that is under-resourced when it comes to emergency services is extremely important from the side of the person who needs help, as well as the people providing the help.”
While the main concept behind these response apps is similar, various focus points are tailored to particular situations or groups of people. The mySOS app has dedicated services for retirement estates and recreational sports facilities with specific needs.
The mySOS Track Me feature is particularly helpful for those who are driving, running or cycling alone, as it notifies contacts if the user has not completed the activity in the expected time. Some of these apps, like mySOS, work together with physical panic buttons for more advanced safety capabilities.
Albert van Urk, the founder and general manager of mySOS, explains that these apps play a particularly important role in South Africa not only because of high crime levels but also because medical and emergency services are often fragmented and there are challenges with locations, such as addresses in more rural areas being unclear.
Sherwell says that a significant challenge is where public emergency services are under-resourced to respond well and quickly. Namola has responded to this by creating a subscription service that gives access to private sector responders. It also allows for emergency services to respond to the lastknown location, even if the user is no longer able to answer their phone.
Gordon Knight, the cofounder of SAFER, warns that not all apps are made equally, and recommends something that is easy to use and preferably paid for. “There are unfortunately quite a few apps out there that