Apps to keep you safe during Easter

Johannesburg - Smartphones are not just useful for playing Angry Birds or surfing the web while on holiday, but they can also keep you safe while travelling.

Fin24 on Thursday published a list of apps that help you book accommodation, navigate through destinations and convert currency.

But readers have told us of other apps to keep you and your family safe while travelling.

Fin24 reader Theoshan Moodley uses an app called Family Alert.

“Family Alert is a cool app I use at home and abroad on holiday. It helps me keep an eye on my family when we are exploring cities and especially when they want to do stuff on their own,” said Moodley.

“It gives their location on a map with address, so it's easy to find them in places I don't know. It draws directions to them too. So far I tried it here (South Africa), the States (US) and France.It works well,” said Moodley.

The app also allows users to send quick distress calls to family members. It is available for Android devices as a free download.

Meanwhile, Fin24 user Albert van Erk, who is part of the team behind an app called mySOS, says this tool can help anyone travelling locally in South Africa

“We believe that mySOS is an invaluable tool to help you through any of those unplanned/unforeseen events,” van Erk told Fin24 in an email.

A snapshot of the mySOS app. (Albert van Erk)

Features of the app include an option that provides a list of contact details for emergency service providers based on your location and the nature of your emergency - whether it be medical, police, fire, sea rescue or roadside assist.

The app also has a feature that can locate nearby hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, dentists and police mySOS also notifies your emergency contacts about the incident and your location.

In addition, the app’s 'Track Me' feature has a countdown timer that ensures your emergency contacts will be notified about your journey details and current location if you don’t come back after a certain time period.

The mySOS app is on the Google Play store and Apple apps market.