Earthquake? Super typhoon? Polar vortex? Disaster can strike anywhere, at any time. Being prepared can save your life while on vacation. Whether you’re escaping for a weekend retreat or traveling across Europe, safety should be on the mind of every traveler. Besides being in new, unfamiliar locations, language barriers can make communication difficult. In a disaster or emergency, most people wouldn’t know what number to call for help. Fortunately, there’s a new app called React Mobile that’s helping to bring mobile security and peace of mind to adventurous travelers on the go.

React Mobile is free to download and helps you turn your smartphone into a powerful lifeline. The app has a “Follow Me” feature that lets your self-selected contacts track your whereabouts in real time whenever you want. Simply touch the “I’m Safe” button to let them know when you’ve arrived at your destination.

In an emergency, press the SOS shield on the app to send out a panic alert containing a link to your GPS location to select emergency contacts via text message and email, which can optionally be posted to Facebook and Twitter. Once the SOS alert is activated, you’re automatically prompted to dial 911.

If you’re traveling outside of the US, you have the ability to choose which country you’re visiting (or living in) from the settings tab, and when you trigger an SOS alert, you will be prompted to dial the appropriate emergency authority depending on where you are (e.g., if you are in the U.K., the app will prompt a user to dial 112/999, not 911).

React Mobile is available on iPhone and select Android smartphones and has world travelers covered with availability in 39 countries and four continents including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, European Union, Australia, China, Japan, Israel, Jamaica, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil and Argentina. React Mobile developers are currently working on expanding its international availability so users feel safe while traveling.

About the Author
This article was a guest post from Robb Monkman, Founder/CEO of React Mobile LLC, a personal safety app for iPhone and Android devices.