Vacations should be a time of enjoyment, not of worry. Did you know your smartphone can help to make your travels safer and smarter? I've found four easy-to-use apps to help ease your mind and increase your safety should the need arise.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
Let's start with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (S.T.E.P.). STEP is a free service provided by the U.S Department of State that helps travelers stay abreast of the latest alerts and warnings that may be advised for the country they are planning to visit.
The first step, pardon the pun, is to enroll your upcoming trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your destination country by completing your trip information in the app. When you do this, you will receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country so that you can make informed decisions about your travel plans.
Signing up with the STEP program and alerting the U.S. Embassy of your travel plans will also assist the embassy in contacting you in the case of an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency back home.
Help Me - SOS International
Everyone knows that 911 is the one number you can dial in the U.S. for any type of emergency, but did you ever think about what that number would be in another country? SOS International is a free app designed to place emergency calls (Police, Ambulance, or Fire Dept) in whatever your current country location may be at your time of need.
This app covers over 200 countries and provides you with local emergency numbers at the touch of your finger. Just open the app and select the country you are visiting and then select the service you need. To assist authorities in finding your location, you can also get the address or GPS coordinates of your current location and send an SMS or an email to the person you wish to contact in case of emergency.
Medical ID - ICE
With the Medical ID - ICE (In Case of Emergency) app you can enter your medical profile (and those of family members, if you wish) into your smartphone that are accessible from the lock screen. This can provide first responders with important information in the event you are unable to communicate with them yourself.
In case of emergency, this profile enables quick access to vital information such as your allergies, blood type, medical contacts, etc. that are essential to attending first responders, medics or medical staff having to take action. It also has a place where in the profile where you can enter the number(s) of the person(s) you wished to be contacted in an emergency.
TripLingo
TripLingo is a great tool for international travelers. Knowing the local language is always important if you should ever need directions, or need to get emergency assistance. TripLingo can help you to instantly translate common words and phrases with the touch of a finger. It also has a voice or image translator option available. With its menu options you can get a crash course on the local culture, check the current currency conversion, or even calculate the proper tip. Another important feature is the "Wi-fi Dialer" that allows you to call any U.S. phone number from anywhere in the world where Wi-fi is available. TripLingo also has a premium option if you wish to have greater access to more extensive features.
So there they are, some of my suggestions for apps to assist in safe travels. Do you have a favorite app you feel helps to make your travels safer that you would like to share? Let us know in the comment section below so we all can stay informed and safe.
So there they are, some of my suggestions for apps to assist in safe travels. Do you have a favorite app you feel helps to make your travels safer that you would like to share? Let us know in the comment section below so we all can stay informed and safe.
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