Going for 1h30 run - how to make an emergency call?

[QuestionMarkNow]

A very practical question.
ds (17yo) is doing a lot of running, even more so since the lockdown. He is now doing what I would call a long run (about 15~17km) on a regular basis

Any idea on how he could take 'something' with him to contact us in case of emergency (eg he twists his ankle and can't walk back home).
A phone has been a no-no from him (where could I keep that?). Money seems a bit pointless (where could you find a public phone to ring home or a taxi).

Any other idea??

I use a flipbelt for my phone and keys, it’s great and doesn’t budge when you are running. My old bum bag style one would end up under my boobs some days 😂

Not sure which watch he has but mine would be able to contact someone in an emergency. Not exactly sure how it all works!

I bought my dd an arm band for her phone when she runs. She’s only 12 so I wouldn’t be happy for her to go out without it.

If his watch doesn't already have an emergency alert function he could use a Run Angel and it'd text you in an emergency.

Apple Watch with cellular data? Expensive solution though!

If he doesn't want to carry his phone, that's the end of it surely? He's only going out for 1.5 hours - hardly climbing Mt Everest! If something bad happens, ask someone for help.

phones do not need to be the trendy massive chunky things. Get a £10 talk and text burner phone from ebay (this is the only positive thing about the drug trade). Add a £10 top up from the network that functions in your area (if it is O2, go for Tesco as the credit never expires). It will need charging about every two weeks, weighs very little, is very small and withstands being dropped.

I have a belt for phone and keys as hated arm band.

If he is checking his phone on his watch, does the watch have facilities to make a call/send a text? Something like an Apple Watch would do!
You can get small GPS devices that can make an emergency call/send a text – my elderly father has one that he takes with him if he’s going out – it has a button on it that he can press and it will automatically make a call to a designated number – it also texts a location if the emergency button is pressed

@1300cakes

If he doesn't want to carry his phone, that's the end of it surely? He's only going out for 1.5 hours - hardly climbing Mt Everest! If something bad happens, ask someone for help.

I don't think the OP has said what kind of area she lives in but around me I can't imagine anyone would go out without a phone, loads of off road running and esp during lockdown very few people around. I've been out for walks for a couple of hours and not seen anyone, I certainly wouldn't be able to simply ask someone to help.

As others have already posted there are lots of ways to carry a phone when you run.

Google flip belt or spibelt.

I wear a runners belt, it's waterproof, slim fitting and ideal for my phone, keys and a couple of £ in case of an emergency. It means that I can have my music on too. I think it cost about £4 on eBay

parkrun-barcode.com

If he doesn't want to take his phone get one of these for his shoes.

It's a free sign up to parkrun and then the barcodes have and in case of emergency numbers.

People will look for these to ID injured runners

I used to wear a bumbag. Running makes my nose run like crazy so I need to take lots of tissues with me as well.

Apple Watch.

That's what your shirt's for Gin

When I was training for a half marathon one day my knee just gave way. Miles from anywhere. In the days before mobile phones. I had enough money for the tram home (I'd been planning to run to the end of the tram line and ride home) but was a long way from a stop. I couldn't put any weight on it at all so would have had to hop, probably for a mile or more. By some miracle my boss drove past as I was sitting at the side of the road wondering what the hell I was going to do. I'd never run into him outside work before or after. He drove me home. I still don't know what I would have done without him. Now I don't run without a phone.

Wrist sweatband Gin. Saves so much trouble!

I'm another runny-nose runner, especially when the weather is cold.

Definitely phone.

I have a pocket in the back of my running shorts that my phone fits in. Unfortunately when I stacked in and landed on my hands I couldn't get it out to ring DH. Luckily I wasn't far from home.

Thank you all.

To answer some questions:

• He is using a garmin watch and Strava for his runs. I don't think there is a call facility on it.
• His runs are a mixture of pavements and of roads. But the long runs are on pavements only.
• His plan if he hurts himself is to knock on someone's door. But just at the moment with covid, social distancing etc... it might be trickier!
• Where we are, it seems that lockdown has brought people out. According to ds, he has never seen as many people 'exercising' and running than at the height of the lockdown

@mencken, I thought about a small phone like this just for running. Less likely to get damaged, not as big/bulky. I'd be happy with that and ds might take on it more easily.

My DH uses an armband and my DD uses a flat waist belt for their phones.

Fwiw, as I said running isn't my thing. But i've had two very bad twisted ankles that took months to heal just from walking.
Hence my 'worry' as ds would say that he could hurt himself badly and really struggle. Having had to walk on a badly twisted ankle (lost in the middle of nowhere), I'd rather avoid that for him if possible.

I use a flip belt. Wouldn’t run without a phone, after doing my ankle in tripping on a rabbit hole about a mile from home.

@Etcni, do you know how precise the location is for those alarms?