Your Phone: Tool or Distraction?

Your phone can be one of the most useful personal safety tools you carry.

It can help you navigate, contact someone, share your location, arrange transport and get help.

But it can also take your attention away from what is happening around you.

The difference often comes down to how and when you use it.

Where is your attention?

Imagine walking through an unfamiliar area while following directions on your phone.

You are concentrating on the map.

You might not notice:

• who is around you

• someone approaching

• that the street has become quieter

• an open business you could use

• a change in your surroundings

• where you could go if something concerned you

You do not need to put your phone away for the entire journey.

Instead, think about where you stop to use it.

Check your directions somewhere suitable, look at the route ahead and then bring your attention back to your surroundings.

Headphones and awareness

Headphones and earbuds can reduce your awareness of what is happening around you.

You may be less likely to hear:

• approaching traffic

• footsteps

• someone speaking to you

• an argument developing nearby

• other changes in the environment

This doesn’t mean you should never wear headphones.

Consider the situation.

Walking somewhere familiar during the day may be very different from walking through an unfamiliar area late at night.

Adjust how you use them to suit the environment.

Use your phone as a tool

Your phone can support your personal safety in several ways.

You can use it to:

• plan a route before leaving

• check public transport

• arrange a taxi

• contact friends or family

• share your location

• find an alternative route

• locate an open business or public place

• contact the emergency services

The important thing is to use the phone to increase your options, rather than allowing it to remove your awareness.

Think about your battery

A phone is only useful if it works.

Before a journey, particularly somewhere unfamiliar, consider your battery level.

If it is getting low, think about which functions you actually need.

Navigation, communication and arranging transport may become more important than watching videos or using social media.

A small portable power bank can also be useful on longer journeys.

Keep important information accessible

It can be useful to know how to quickly access the emergency features available on your phone.

Many smartphones provide functions such as:

• emergency calling

• emergency contacts

• medical information

• location sharing

• Emergency SOS

These features vary between devices.

Take a few minutes to find out what your phone can do before you need it.

Don’t become absorbed in the screen

If something around you starts to concern you, your phone can sometimes become an automatic response.

You might start messaging somebody or searching for information.

Before becoming focused on the screen, look around.

Ask yourself:

Where am I?

Where are other people?

Where could I go?

Do I need to move first?

Your first action may be to change position or move somewhere safer before using your phone.

Using your phone should not replace action

Calling or messaging someone can be helpful, but it does not automatically make the situation safer.

Imagine you think somebody may be following you.

Calling a friend may provide reassurance, but continuing along an isolated route while concentrating on the conversation may not improve your position.

A better option might be to move towards a busy location first and then make the call.

Technology should support your decisions, not replace them.

NOTICE → THINK → ACT

NOTICE

Where is my attention?

Am I becoming distracted by my phone?

Has the environment changed?

THINK

Is my phone helping me right now?

Do I need directions?

Should I contact someone?

Would moving somewhere safer be more useful first?

ACT

Look up.

Check your surroundings.

Move if necessary.

Then use your phone to help you take the next appropriate action.

Your phone can be a powerful personal safety tool.

Just remember that sometimes the most useful thing you can do with it is look up from it.