5 Best Personal Emergency, Safety, Panic Alarms [2023 Updated]

When you have to walk through a parking garage, side alley, or other shady area, it can be scary. For a minute or two or three, you’re in a vulnerable situation. And if you’re attacked, you’re going to need some way to deter your attacker. That’s where an emergency panic alarm can come in handy. Set off a loud siren, and a smart criminal will run away to avoid getting caught.

Safety alarms can be good for more than deterring crime. They can also be excellent tools for the elderly. Suppose you live in an apartment and take a bad fall. You’re in a building with other people in the other units, but you have no way to call for help. If you’re holding a safety alarm, you can just set off the siren. Provided it’s loud enough, it’s going to get your neighbors’ attention.

We’re about to review five of the best personal emergency, safety, and panic alarms on today’s market. To find out which one is best, we’ll give each alarm a thorough evaluation. After that, we’ll sum up what we’ve learned and deliver our final verdict. Let’s begin!

1. Thopeb The Original Self Defense Siren Keychain

Key features:

• 125dB siren.
• Optional rechargeable CR2032 battery.
• Built-in LED strobe.

The Thopeb The Original Self Defense Siren Keychain is a rectangular fob with a soft matte finish. It’s available in four colors: charcoal, aqua, pink, or white. The total size is just 3.2 inches long, 1.25 inches wide, and 0.59-inch thick.

At the top of a fob is a circular ring that can be yanked out of the top of the unit. This pulls a pin out of the fob and activates the siren. The siren is exceptionally loud, putting out 125dB of sound. To put that in perspective, that’s about the same level of noise you’d expect at a rock concert. The kit includes a little carabineer for attaching the alarm to your belt or a bag. All you have to do is pull the alarm off, and the ring and pin will remain attached to the carabineer. Re-inserting the ring and pin will shut the siren off.

There’s also a circular LED light on the front of the housing. When the siren goes off, the light will also flash in a strobing person. This achieves a couple effects. For one thing, strobe lights can disorient an attacker. Police are actually trained to use strobe light flashlights for this purpose. For another thing, the strobe light can make you easier for others to locate. So if you get hurt in the woods at night, the strobe can serve as a beacon.

The alarm is powered by a CR2032 battery, which has a shelf life of approximately six months. It’s enough to run the alarm for around 30 minutes, which should be more than you ever need. Some variants of the Thopeb siren are actually rechargeable. These variants come with a short USB Type-C cord for charging, and sport an LED indicator light. So instead of changing the battery every six months, you just need to throw it on the charger. The rechargeable version is not available in white.

2. KOSIN Safe Sound Personal Alarm

Key features:

• 140dB siren.
• 50-minute battery life with 12-month shelf life.
• Built-in LED flashlight.

The KOSIN Safe Sound Personal Alarm has an altogether different form factor. Rather than a fob-style design, it’s shaped like an egg. At 2.7 inches tall, 1.7 inches wide, and 0.7 inches thick, it’s relatively small and discreet. There’s a little chain at the top that’s attached to a key ring. You can connect it to your keychain, or connect a carabineer to attach it anywhere on your person.

This alarm ships in a six-pack, with six colors so you can keep track of which is which. They come in black, blue, brown, gold, purple, and white. That’s enough to outfit the whole family and still have a spare or three.

On the right side of the housing, you’ll notice a small lanyard. This is not for hanging the alarm. It’s attached to a metal pin, and when you pull the lanyard, the pin pops out and the siren actuates. The siren is incredibly loud, at 140dB in volume. That’s roughly equivalent to a shotgun blast or a tornado siren. By comparison, 130dB is considered the “pain threshold.” Above this level, it physically hurts your ears. Listening for more than a couple of minutes can cause permanent hearing loss. Your attacker will be disoriented from the noise alone. And anyone within several blocks will hear your alarm going off.

In addition to the audible siren, there’s an LED diode on the bottom of the housing. This isn’t a strobe or deterrent. Instead, it works as a flashlight. Press and hold the button on the front of the housing, and the light will stay on as long as you hold it. You can use it to find your way through a dark area, or just to locate a regular flashlight when the power goes out.

The batteries are just a pair of tiny LR22 button batteries. These will last for 50 minutes of continuous use, although using the flashlight function will reduce that. Even so, you’ll have more than enough alarm duration. The batteries have a shelf life of 12 months, and the back of the housing unscrews for easy replacement.

3. BASU eAlarm Plus Emergency Alarm

Key features:

• 130dB siren.
• 30-minute battery life and 5-year shelf life.
• Can be used as a tripwire.

The BASU eAlarm Plus Emergency Alarm has a pod-shaped housing with a matte finish. It comes in black or pink, and measures 3.4 inches long, 1.22 inches wide, and 0.51-inch thick. At the top is a semicircular ring attached to a plug that’s installed in the unit. When this ring is pulled out, it will activate a loud, 130dB siren. Put the ring back into place, and the siren will shut off.

The kit includes a carabineer for attaching the alarm to your clothes, key ring, or bag. In addition, there’s a little semicircular slot in the bottom of the housing. This allows you to connect both ends of the alarm and use it as a tripwire. For example, suppose you’re camping and you’re leaving your gear at your campsite. You could attach one end of the alarm to your bag and the other end to a guy wire or tent stake. If someone tries to walk off with the bag, they’ll inadvertently set off the siren.

Power is provided by a CR1632 watch battery. It has enough juice to run the siren for 30 minutes. Better yet, it has an impressive five-year shelf life. The kit also comes with a pair of spares in case you need to change them out.

4. Mini Guardian 4G Medical Alert System

Key features:

• Push button operation connects you to emergency services.
• GPS, WiFi, and 4G connectivity.
• Optional automatic fall detection.
• 5-day battery life.
• Requires a monthly subscription.

The Mini Guardian 4G Medical Alert System is a small plastic fob that’s built into a necklace. It measures 1.38” wide, and has a matte housing that’s available in black, white, or silver. At the top is a metal flange that wraps around a plain black nylon cord.

This is a little different from the other alarms because it doesn’t emit an audible siren. Instead, it’s designed to connect you to emergency services. Press the button on the front, and you’ll be instantly connected to a trained operator. They can then get you in touch with an ambulance or other emergency services as needed.

There’s even an optional built-in fall detection function that will automatically place a call when a fall is detected. To this end, the housing is entirely water-resistant. You can wear it in the shower, just in case you slip and fall.

The Mini Guardian is equipped with a GPS antenna that pinpoints your exact location. It can connect via WiFi, as well as via a 4G phone signal anywhere there’s cellular service. Because this requires access to the phone network, you’ll have to pay for a monthly subscription.

The internal rechargeable battery will last for about five days. It recharges in less than two hours, and a charger is included in the kit.

5. VIGOROAD Safe Sound Personal Alarm

Key features:

• 130dB siren.
• 40-minute battery life.
• Built-in strobe and flashlight.

The VIGOROAD Safe Sound Personal Alarm is an oval fob that measures 3.62 inches long and 1.23 inches wide. It’s available individually in black, blue, pink, purple, and green. Or you can order a two-pack with mixed colors to help you tell them apart. There’s a metal chain at the bottom with a little clip for your keychain or belt loop. Alternatively, you can use the included carabineer.

As with the other fob-style alarms, this one has a little ring on the top that you pull out to activate the alarm. It produces a piercing 130dB siren, and the strobe light on the front flashes bright white. There’s also a little button on the side, which you press and hold to use the light as a flashlight.

This alarm uses a pair of CR2032 batteries, which will last for about 40 minutes of use. Keep in mind that the flashlight will also drain the battery. If you’re using it as a flashlight, you’ll want to change your batteries regularly.

Personal Safety Alarm FAQ

Why use a personal alarm?

A personal alarm creates a loud siren, which is designed to deter potential attackers. The theory is that criminals prefer an easy target, and will run away if they’re at risk of getting caught.

What if my personal alarm doesn’t work?

If an attacker is not deterred by an alarm, it can be a good idea to have a second line of defense. A stun gun is a great follow-up if the alarm is ineffective.

Who is a personal alarm intended for?

Anyone can benefit from carrying a mini emergency alarm. Most commonly, elderly folks, women, children or those who are defenseless may feel a sense of security by carrying one. They’re typically small, out of sight and very discreet; perfect for real world scenarios.

How does a personal emergency alarm work?

A personal emergency alarm is usually a small device that when activated sends out a loud siren or sound to alert people in the area of an emergency. It’s typically triggered by pushing a button or pulling a cord.

What are the benefits of using one?

A personal emergency alarm can give an individual the confidence to venture out knowing they have a way to quickly call for help in case of an emergency. Some may even help reduce response times for first responders to an emergency situation.

Are personal emergency alarms suitable for outdoor activities?

Yes, they’re suitable for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, or cycling. Many models are water resistant and built to withstand everyday use.

Are personal alarms expensive?

No, personal emergency alarms are not expensive and there are models available to fit any budget. They can range from a few dollars for basic models to around $100 for more feature-rich options.

Final Verdict

All five of these personal alarms have their own benefits and uses. Which one is right for you will largely depend on what you’re looking for. Let’s summarize what we’ve learned.

We began by examining the Thopeb The Original Self Defense Siren Keychain. This is a compact little fob that’s designed to hook onto your keychain or belt. The siren is quite loud, and the strobe light provides a bright visual beacon. You can also order a rechargeable version if you don’t want to mess around with batteries.

Second on our list was the KOSIN Safe Sound Personal Alarm. This large, egg-shaped alarm is the loudest on our list, emitting a piercing 140dB siren. That’s loud enough to cause pain, and can be heard from a considerable distance. We also liked the large, easy-to-use lanyard and the built-in flashlight function.

Next, we looked at the BASU eAlarm Plus Emergency Alarm. This alarm has a slot on one end that allows you to install it as a tripwire to protect your personal belongings. Not only that, but the battery has a shelf life of five years. This means you don’t have to worry about changing your battery once a year or less.

After that, we checked out the Mini Guardian 4G Medical Alert System. This is a powerful tool that allows you to connect to an emergency phone center with the push of a button. It requires a monthly subscription, but it provides unparalleled peace of mind.

Finally, we reviewed the VIGOROAD Safe Sound Personal Alarm. This alarm produces a 130dB siren that just barely reaches the pain threshold. We liked the built-in strobe light, which also doubles as a flashlight. We also liked the high-quality belt clip, which makes it easy to attach.