Women in India would think twice before heading out for a walk at night, out of fear of being raped, harassed, catcalled or being subjected to any kind of sexual violence. And the fear is justified. India was the world’s most dangerous country for women, followed by Somalia and Saudi Arabia, according to a poll conducted by Thomson Reuters Foundation last year.
As the discussions on women’s safety slowly matures, the good old advice of being careful and aware of one’s surrounding is only too practical.
In the light of the most recent case of gang-rape and murder of a young woman in Hyderabad last week, we recommend a few ways for women to be safe: you can never be too careful.
Smart Jewellery
Safety bracelet: It is a fashionable bracelet for women which can be synced with the user’s cell phone. The user will have to add friends and family members on the ‘guardian network.’ After this is saved, two buttons on the side of the bracelet can be used to send messages and call any registered guardians and also allows the user to audio record the situation. These products are available for Rs.2000 onwards.
Smart Pendant: It is best when attackers are not aware of your safety methods and a pendant does the work best. This jewellery which can disguise as your protector can be used to share live location and its mobile app can find the nearest hospital or police station too. Such devices are rechargeable, with and battery-life of 7-10 days.
Mobile Apps
bSafe: This mobile application comes packed with many features through its SOS button which can be activated by touch or voice when the user cannot reach for the phone. The user can share the live location or a video and audio recording of events after activating the SOS button to a select network of friends and family members on the app. It also has the feature of alarm and siren to inform nearby people of the danger. Likewise, the app allows users to make fake phone calls to escape from difficult situations. This is available both for android and iOS phones.
Shake2Safety: This well-designed app can be used without active internet connection on the phone. The user can either shake their phones or press the power button four times to alert registered contact numbers through text or call. One does not need to unlock the phone in order to reach your near ones. This app is available on android phones.
Handy tools
Pepper Spray: It is always advised that women always have a pepper spray handy. One can buy pepper sprays that are legally approved and when sprayed on the attacker, it causes irritation to their eyes and skin, thereby giving you time to make a quick escape. This is available at a price range of Rs 150 to Rs 500.
Safety alarm: Safety alarm technologies will work as a siren to alerting nearby people that you are in danger. They usually come in the form of key chain which are easy to carry and produce loud whistles or noises. The latest models even provide SOS communication by alerting your emergency contacts via smartphone. Live-tracking technology embedded in these devices can help your contact reach you quickly too. The price range for this product is between Rs 500 to Rs 2000.
