Apps aim to enhance college safety

Author: Sweeps Feed
Published:

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Several mobile phone apps are designed to make college safer for students.

Colleges, including Florida SouthWestern State College, are putting out software and companies are, too. The idea is to supplement 9-1-1 systems with software that allows campus safety officials to track students.

“The 911 system doesn’t traditionally have the ability to track a student and know their exact location and continue that tracking once the call is ended or once the call is made,” said Tom Saccenti of the National Association of Campus Safety Administrators.

LiveSafe uses GPS technology to track students, and many apps offer additional features. Kitestring times students’ walks, alerting friends or family if the student doesn’t check in after a certain time. React Mobile allows students to send emergency messages via text, email, Twitter or Facebook that include their CPS coordinates. Safecaster can live stream and record video in an emergency.

 

The apps aren’t necessarily limited to students. Some are available for anyone to use. Some are free while others charge a small fee or offer a monthly subscription service for premium features.

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