9 Reasons a Cell Phone is the Most Critical Personal Safety Device

Back when cell phones first became popular they were used for two things: making and receiving phone calls… and nothing else. Except maybe for playing the game Snake – that was pretty big for a while too. They were big and bulky and not all that reliable, and it took a while for people to catch on to the idea that you could carry around a phone with you and constantly stay in touch with others. Once people did catch on to the idea that you can stay in touch parents ate it up, making it the ultimate way for them to somewhat keep tabs on their children, among other benefits.

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Obviously those days are long gone now, as you see everyone from toddlers to seniors sporting cell phones that do a whole range of different things. Cell phones have evolved from being a means to make a phone call to being something that can keep you connected on an entirely different level. The introduction of the smartphone has brought the internet to our fingertips, and apps have allowed us to constantly find new ways to be connected to others.

When it comes to personal safety though, one thing has remained a constant: cell phones are perfect for quickly communicating information to one another, making it ideal in risky situations and emergencies of all kinds.

GPS – Almost all cell phones come equipped with GPS now, and if they don’t you can easily download an app to take care of that. Instead of driving to the nearest gas station for directions or busting out a map the size of your front windshield to try and locate the fastest possible route to your destination, you simply type your endpoint into the GPS and allow them to navigate you there. Being lost has become a thing of the past.

Weather Alerts – Since weather can change at the drop of a hat and can sometimes create devastating situations, having a cell phone allows you to do two things: first, if you download a weather app it will automatically alert you of changing weather and different weather alerts that you need to be aware of. Second, it will allow you to get in contact with people to coordinate where to meet in case of weather emergencies and to let others know that you are safe and sound.

911 – A lot of phones now have an emergency button you can push to immediately call the police, making it an essential tool to have when you’re stuck in an unsafe situation. And since cell phones have become increasingly sophisticated throughout the years, the police are generally able to locate you quickly based on your phone’s GPS location.

Accidents – Accidents tend to happen at the most inopportune times (really, when is an accident ever convenient?), but by having a cell phone you can contact insurance companies, emergency services, and family members quickly to resolve the situation in the most efficient manner possible.

ICE – Having numbers programmed into your phone and listed as ICE (In Case of Emergency) makes it easy for emergency responders to contact the right people quickly if you’re in a situation that warrants someone needing to be contact, such as an accident. While we don’t want to think that anything bad will happen to us, it’s better to be prepared and to make it as easy as possible for our families to be contacted in case of an emergency.

Makeshift Flashlight – Some phone come with a flashlight built into them, but even if you don’t have that option you can still use the backlight from a cell phone screen to light up a path or to find something when it’s dark outside. For instance, this is especially handy when you’re stranded with a flat tire on the side of the road at night and need some light to see what you’re doing or if you’re out camping or hiking and can’t see where you’re going on a dark pathway.

Texting – Sending text messages has become quite controversial in the past few years because people are texting while driving and getting into accidents. However if you’re stuck in a situation where someone has broken into your house or is following you or something of the sort then a text message is the perfect and discreet way to alert someone to the situation and get help.

Phone Cameras – Camera phones have advanced significantly since they first were introduced; now taking exceptionally clear pictures and the ability to upload them quickly to text messages, emails and internet sites, cameras on phones allow you to take pictures of license plates or people in a discreet way to give information to authorities.

Apps – In addition to adding the internet onto our phones, apps have transformed the way we use cell phones. There are several apps out there that promote safety, notably several first aid apps that you can download will give you step by step instructions for how to respond in different emergency situations. Cell phones have long been hailed as hazardous devices that are causing accidents and promoting unsafe behavior. However just because the people operating them may be doing so in situations that make it unsafe to be on their phones, doesn’t make the cell phone itself an unsafe device. On the contrary, with all the different things you can do with cell phones these days they have become the ultimate device for promoting safety – it’s up to you to decide how you want to use them.