When you’re in distress, Alert your contacts with a tap

Do you worry when your kids walk to school or your spouse is traveling alone? Or, do you or someone you love suffer from asthma attacks, blood sugar lows, panic attacks, or another health-related issue where help needs to be a tap away? If so, then check out Alert by HelpAround. For iPhone and Apple Watch, Alert will notify your three designated contacts when you are in distress and even let you escalate to 911 for a severe emergency.

Setting up Alert

After downloading Alert, you simply choose up to three contacts that you will want notified in an emergency. You will then verify your phone number and enter your name to be displayed to those contacts if a call is made.

Using Alert

If the time comes where you are in physical or mental distress, simply tap the Alert button on either your iPhone or Apple Watch. The app will then send a text message with your location and connect your contacts to a conference call with you. You can then escalate a call to 911 if necessary.

Specific health features

Alert works with Apple’s Health app with specific features for blood-glucose fluctuations. You can also have an alert message sent to nearby diabetes helpers with your name and location. In addition, if your blood glucose monitor is connected to your iPhone, you can receive alerts for out-of-range readings.

For anyone

Alert is a wonderful app for those who may need help in a hurry due to a medical situation. It could also be used for kids when they are out and about or family members who are out walking alone. There is a widget for the notification center and with Apple Watch support; there are easy ways for anyone to hit that panic button in a hurry.

Alert by HelpAround is available at no charge on the App Store. The app comes with three free calls, but to upgrade and unlock the call restriction there are in-app purchases at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

In other news, Facebook Messenger lands on the Apple Watch and Soon you can use Apple Pay at Starbucks, KFC and Chili’s.