New 'What Can Kill Me' App Helps Users Spot Hazards Before They Encounter Them
The Californer/10358271

SAN DIEGO - Californer -- From a highly venomous yellow-bellied sea snake recently discovered on a Southern California beach to wildfires, extreme heat, dangerous surf and rapidly changing trail conditions, outdoor hazards can appear with little warning.

What Can Kill Me™, a location-based outdoor hazard awareness app, is now available as a free download on the Apple App Store.

The app places community-reported hazards and public safety information on a single interactive map, helping users better understand what may be around them before they hike, camp, travel, visit the beach or explore an unfamiliar area.

What Can Kill Me covers eight major hazard categories: wildlife, weather, terrain, water, fire, people, infrastructure and plants.

Users can report hazards such as rattlesnakes, rip currents, wildfires, flash floods, extreme heat, poison oak, dangerous trail conditions and other threats. Reports can include a photo and severity level, while other users can confirm hazards they encounter.

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The app also incorporates information from sources including the National Weather Service, NASA FIRMS, National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Avalanche.org and iNaturalist.

Born From a Close Call

The idea began during a nighttime snorkeling trip in Moorea, French Polynesia, when founder Michael Harlow's wife, Melissa, nearly touched a dangerous cone snail without realizing what it was.

"My wife Melissa came up with the idea that night," Harlow said. "We realized you can research a destination for weeks and still not know what dangers might be right where you're going. We wanted to create something that could help people know before they go."

That experience became the foundation for the app's guiding message:

What Can Kill Me is designed to bring different types of hazard information together so users don't have to search numerous websites and apps before heading outside.

The app is intended as an awareness tool rather than a replacement for emergency services or official government warnings.

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Free Core Safety Features

The core What Can Kill Me safety features are available free.

There are no advertisements, and the developer states that user information is not sold for advertising purposes.

"Our goal isn't to make people afraid of the outdoors," Harlow said. "It's the opposite. The more you know about your surroundings, the better prepared you can be to enjoy them safely."

Download What Can Kill Me

What Can Kill Me™ is available now for iPhone.

Get the free app:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/what-can-kill-me/id6802843822

Website:
WhatCanKillMeApp.com

Media Contact
Michael Harlow
Founder, What Can Kill Me™
admin@whatcankillmeapp.com
WhatCanKillMeApp.com