While there are some alarming statistics about student safety, there are things you can do to keep yourself safe, and utilizing smartphone safety apps is one of them.

Today, you are more connected to your mobile device than ever before. According to an eMarketer report, by 2016 91 percent of students will have a smartphone. While many students use their smartphones for texting, watching videos, and researching, it is important that you realize the personal safety assistance that safety apps on your smartphone can offer as well.

Why should you care?

Consider these statistics:

• 1 out of every 22 college students will experience a crime during their time at school.
• More than 1 in 4 college women are sexually assaulted.

While the statistics are eye-opening, smartphone apps are great tools because they are easily accessible and share useful, usually free, resources right at your fingertips.

So, have constant security and assistance options and reduce your risk with our top 5 student safety apps.

On Watch

“The award-winning personal safety app for college students.”
Available for iPhone & Android
This safety app was created specifically for college students. It has six customizable alert options that let you notify family, friends, local police or 911 via email, text, phone call or even Facebook. This app also offers a “watch my back” service that allows you to set a timer for a specified period of time. When that time is up, and if you don’t turn off the timer, your chosen contacts will be alerted of your GPS location.

Panic Guard

“Safety fast.” Available for iPhone & Android
Just like the bSafe app, this student app also tracks your location, alerts police and your contacts that you previously selected, and even secretly records your attacker. This app is different in that it can be activated through both shaking and also tapping the phone. It also will continue to track your location so that even if you leave the original scene, emergency authorities will know your current location.

Circle of 6

“A free safety app that prevents violence before it happens”
Available for iPhone & Android

A straightforward app, this student software allows you to create a circle of six contacts of your choice. So if you are traveling alone, lose track of your friends, or want to alert someone that you are in a dangerous situation, this app sends a message with GPS location and map of where you are to your circle and the local emergency departments.

 bSafe

“Turns your cellphone into the ultimate safety app.”
Available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry (beta)
This safety app is a nifty mobile-based safety alarm. Once you download the app, a red button will appear on your phone screen. When you press the red button, a siren will go off, a video recording will start, and the emergency contacts that you chose (which can include 911), will be sent an alert with a message of your GPS location and the recorded video.

Guardly

“The fastest way to connect to authorities, family & friends, when you need help.”
Available for iPhone, Android, Blackberry & Windows Phone
This safety app provides communication and monitoring in real-time of the emergency incident. It acts as an instant two-way communication with local authorities, safety groups, and nearby security. Another interesting feature that this student app offers is that it allows you to set up specific types of emergency situations such as allergy emergencies or traveling alone as well as accompanying contacts to be notified for each type of incident.