Great iPhone and Android tools to give you peace of mind

Being a mom is stressful at the best of times, but being prepared for emergencies can take a load off your mind. From relatively minor concerns like a child’s cough to worst-case-scenarios, having a plan and the right tools at hand can help you keep a clear head and do the right thing. These apps can help you feel more safe day-to-day, and in a crisis you’ll be glad to have them.

1. Kidsdoc (Android, iPhone)

Taken from clinical protocols used by your pediatrician or school nurse, this app guides you through the most common ailments in school-age children. Obviously it shouldn’t replace professional medical advice, but it is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and can help you determine whether to keep your child home from school for a minor issue, or whether a cough or fever might be developing into something more serious. You select the pertinent symptoms, use a simple decision map to find the appropriate course of action (from “Manage at home” to “Call 911”), and then follow the first aid or home care advice that follows. Some of what ensues is common sense—you probably don’t need a flow chart to know when to call an ambulance—but for borderline issues like unidentified stings, rashes, or bad tummy aches, it can be good to have some guidance. Cost: $1.99

2. GPS Phone Tracker Lite (Android, iPhone)

If you allow cell phones for your older kids, GPS Phone Tracker Lite allows you to give them more autonomy without the anxiety of wondering where they are. Once you give the app permission to track their phone, it will give you a map of their movements in the last four hours, updated in real time. While it’s a bit sneaky, you’ll be glad to have it in the event of a natural disaster, family emergency, or if your children find themselves in danger. Be aware that several gag apps are available on the iPhone App Store and the Android Market that don’t actually track phones, so make sure to check the description if you go for a different app. Cost: Free for Android, $1.99 for iPhone

3. FBI Child ID (iPhone)

This official FBI app allows you to store password-protected photos and vital information on your children, so that if a child gets hurt or goes missing, you can give law enforcement the information they need to help. All information is saved on your phone and accessible only with your password—only in an emergency does the app request permission to send your child’s information to law enforcement. The app allows quick access to 911 and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as well as a checklist so that you leave nothing undone in the critical first 24 hours after a disappearance. Cost: Free.

4. SmartICE (Android, iPhone)

This is a great app to keep you organized in an emergency. It comes with first aid tips and vital information on you and your kids including home address, blood type, allergies, immunization history, and other details that first responders need to know immediately if someone is hurt. It can also track your location, so that if you are injured, you can find the closest hospital, a lawyer, or quickly give your location to first responders. It also allows you to store password-protected insurance information, and email important information to your doctor with a built-in HIPAA privacy statement to save time. This is a great app for the whole family, but particularly as children get older and spend more time on their own, it helps to know that they’re equipped to deal with emergencies.

Colleen Harding is a staff writer for a personal injury lawyer in Denver on topics relating to employment, labor and state law. Colleen hopes that sharing her knowledge will make us all happy, law-abiding citizens. She is also a member of Amnesty International as well as an active volunteer in her community.