By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Conservatives: The Utah Health Exchange is Not a Model
    July 23, 2011
    Medical Malpractice Reform Losing Physician Support
    November 7, 2011
    Hospitals Aim to Apply Direct Payments of Care Delivery to Increase Resources
    August 28, 2012
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Threatened by Domestic Violence? There’s an App for That
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Global Healthcare > Threatened by Domestic Violence? There’s an App for That
eHealthGlobal HealthcareHome HealthMobile HealthPolicy & LawPublic HealthTechnology

Threatened by Domestic Violence? There’s an App for That

psalber
Last updated: November 22, 2013 9:00 am
psalber
Share
3 Min Read
mobile health for women
SHARE

mobile health for womenIf you have followed the recent stories about George Zimmerman, the guy who killed Trayvon Marten, you know that he was just released from jail, on bail, after being accused of domestic violen

mobile health for womenIf you have followed the recent stories about George Zimmerman, the guy who killed Trayvon Marten, you know that he was just released from jail, on bail, after being accused of domestic violence.  According to news reports, the story goes something like this.  Zimmerman’s girlfriend, called 911 to report that her boyfriend was breaking things, including a glass table, in her house.  He also pointed a shotgun at her.  After he pushed her out of her house and locked the door, he called 911 to report that his girlfriend had been breaking things in the house.  This is a classic batterer’s tactic – blame the victim for the violence.  In court, it becomes a “he said, she said” situation – difficult to sort out and often ending badly for the woman.

But now, there’s a device, called the PanicButton, that helps women get help quickly and provides evidence about what actually happened in the incident.  It is being tested in Vitoria, a town with the highest rate of domestic violence in Brazil.  Women in abusive relationships are given the PanicButton when they obtain a court-issued restraining order against their abuser.

Women wear the device on an elastic band around their waist.  If they are threatened by their abuser, they can activate the button by pressing on it for 3 seconds.  It transmits a distress call to a special unit of the Municipal Guard.  It has a GPS unit embedded in it so the mapped location of the event is transmitted to the closest police who respond, often within minutes.  Finally, there is also a recorder in the unit so that the conversation – threats and all – are heard by the police as they rush to the scene.  The recording is transmitted and stored in a police database to be retrieved later to be used as evidence against the aggressor – thus mitigating the type of “he said, she said” situation that occurred in the Zimmerman case.

More Read

happy
Just Because You Can, Does That Mean You Should?
How Cutting-Edge Technology Is Shaping Healthcare
Oral Health: How To Prepare For A Dental Emergency
How to Help Teens with Depression
On “Empowering Patients in the Age of Genomic Medicine”

This device, which cost about $40, has led to arrests and is serving as a deterrent to further abuse.   My only question is how fast can we make this available to abused women everywhere?

(app for victims of domestic violence / shutterstock)

TAGGED:domestic violencePanicButton
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
Mobile Health

Mobile Health Around the Globe: What’s Happening in mHealth in Australia

August 27, 2012
ESR EuroSafe Imaging
RadiologyTechnology

ESR’S EuroSafe Imaging: Supporting and Strengthening Medical Radiation Protection

March 12, 2014

Remote Area Medical Holds Free Clinic in Nashville-1000 or More Patients Expected

February 20, 2011

Financing Global Health: the Story is Stagnation

February 10, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?