Jacqueline Ros

A COLLEGE STUDENT GOES FOR her daily run while her mother, across the country, worries about whether she made it back to the dorm okay. A man in his wheelchair has difficulty transferring to his bed and feels better knowing that if he falls, he can quickly reach his neighbor. Or, a woman walks to her car after working late and hears footsteps behind her.

These are just some of the scenarios that Revolar, a small wearable safety and communication device, was made for, started by Jacqueline Ros after her younger sister was assaulted twice.

“We realized that there’s no time to reach for your phone when you really need help. You might not be in a position to talk to 911—you’re either trying to be discreet and potentially de-escalate a violent situation so you can’t answer questions or you’re already in an emergency and you can’t respond. So your loved ones are in the best position to support you,” says Ros, chief community officer and co-founder of Revolar. “At the touch of a button, Revolar sends a check-in to people you put on your contact list so they know you’re okay; makes your phone ring so you can excuse yourself from an uncomfortable situation; lets someone virtually walk you home; or send help depending on how you trigger it.” Revolar also has a step-counting feature.

By Courtney Drake-McDonough