Best Personal Safety Alarms Of 2023 – Forbes Health – Forbes

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A personal safety alarm is a small, noise-making device meant to surprise a potential attacker or draw attention to an individual in distress. Generally, these products feature an alarm siren with a volume between 120 and 140 decibels, likened to the sound of a jet or airplane engine by many companies. For reference, most emergency sirens, such as those of an ambulance or fire truck, measure between 110 and 129 decibels, while fireworks measure between 140 and 160 decibels, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Decibels above 110 can cause physical discomfort while decibels at least 130 can cause physical pain.

Some personal safety alarms include additional flashing strobe lights and/or LED flashlights for enhanced security at night or in the dark.

Personal safety alarm companies recommend their products for everyone, though many direct their marketing efforts toward women (especially women who often walk alone or at night). This recommendation isn’t surprising in light of the fact that 81% of women report experiencing sexual harassment or assault at some point, and 34% of women report being followed, according to a 2018 national study on sexual harassment and assault conducted by Growth From Knowledge (GFK) for the organization Stop Street Harassment.

While other personal self defense tools like pepper spray are considered weapons and thus are restricted by certain state laws, personal safety alarms are not considered weapons. Most are allowed on planes and in public spaces without restrictions.

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How Does a Personal Safety Alarm Work?

Personal safety alarms are either battery-operated or rechargeable and should easily attach to keys, bags, clothing or other accessible locations. Some have keychain attachments while others attach with a carabiner or clip. They’re generally compact and discreet, blending in with clothing or accessories and intended for use in dangerous or threatening situations, such as an encounter with a potential attacker, using a loud siren when activated to create a distraction and draw attention.

Either pull pins or buttons activate personal safety alarms, depending on the model, but pull pin alarms are more common than button-activated alarms. Once activated, each device has a preset active alarm length, during which time the alarm siren will continuously sound unless disabled by reinserting the pull pin or pressing a button. Each device functions in a slightly different way, so it’s important to read the manual of whichever model you choose. Many companies include video instructions that demonstrate how to use an alarm as well as how loud it is when in use.

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