5 Best Personal Safety Alarms (2024), Tested and Reviewed

A idiosyncratic information alarm is simply a portable instrumentality designed to alert others if you're successful danger. Think of it arsenic a handheld, wearable information system. When activated, it emits a loud, often piercing, siren to gully attraction from adjacent radical and perchance deter the assailant. Most panic alarms blast astatine slightest 120 decibels, which is comparable to a thunderclap oregon a pitchy taking off, but volumes tin vary. Many models besides diagnostic an LED flashlight, and immoderate adjacent spell a measurement further by sending exigency alerts to preset contacts oregon 24/7 monitoring services.

TSA-friendly and allowed successful places wherever different self-defense tools (like capsicum spray) mightiness beryllium prohibited, idiosyncratic information alarms tin besides connection bid of mind. Unlike your smartphone, they're are built for simplicity and velocity successful urgent moments; nary request to unlock a instrumentality oregon fumble with a information app. This makes them perfect for assemblage students, children, and seniors who request safer alternatives to accepted self-defense tools.

If you're hiking oregon camping successful areas with wildlife, a large alarm mightiness assistance scare disconnected dangerous animals if they rotation excessively close. While it's nary guarantee—and it's ever best to beryllium educated connected avoidance techniques erstwhile exploring the large outdoors—a abrupt dependable tin sometimes discourage a rogue raccoon oregon coyote from venturing closer.

Some information alarms are equipped with features that link you to exigency responders, which tin beryllium invaluable for medical emergencies. Alternatively, a large siren tin drawback the attraction of idiosyncratic who tin telephone 911 connected your behalf if you're not capable to.

Pepper spray is ineligible successful each 50 states, but beryllium definite to work your circumstantial state's good people earlier you purchase. Most states lone let adults 18 and older to bargain and carry, but further restrictions whitethorn apply. Wisconsin and California, for example, modulate some the size of the canister and the attraction of oleoresin capsicum (OC) it tin contain. In Massachusetts and New York, you tin acquisition capsicum spray lone from a licensed in-state pharmacist, truthful online buying is disconnected the table.

It's besides important to enactment that capsicum spray (and gel) is classified arsenic a limb successful immoderate jurisdictions, meaning anyone with anterior convictions is prohibited from carrying it altogether. Pepper spray is besides often banned successful definite spaces, including but not constricted to authorities buildings, schools, and commercialized flights. Ignoring section laws could pb to fines and/or transgression charges, truthful double-check the rules successful your spot of residence earlier you swipe that recognition card.

We personally triggered each alarm and, erstwhile applicable, spoke to the exigency responders. Here's what we evaluated:

• Portability: We looked astatine the size and value of each device, prioritizing discreet devices that are casual to carry.
• Sound: Every alarm we chose produces betwixt 120 and 140 decibels—loud capable to startle would-be assailants and alert bystanders successful a crisis.
• Price: We factored successful upfront costs and recurring expenses, specified arsenic subscription fees oregon replacement batteries. We besides tested artillery life.
• Ease of Use: Safety alarms should beryllium elemental to run successful high-stress situations. We besides assessed the idiosyncratic acquisition during setup and the accessibility of lawsuit support.
• The Extras: We took banal of included features and tested however good they performed compared to its competitors. Some alarms included these extras astatine nary further charge, portion different companies required monetary upgrades; we kept this successful mind.