Photo: Courtesy of Flare
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) – Two women from the Boston area are trying to help people get out of uncomfortable, and sometimes dangerous, situations.
Sara De Zarraga and Quinn Fitzgerald are the co-founders of Flare. The two women, who identity as survivors of sexual assault, launched Flare to provide a means of preventing further acts of sexual violence.
“Flare is a software platform that exists on your phone that connects via Bluetooth to one of our Flare-enabled bracelets,” said Fitzgerald. The software allows one to “message up to five of your contacts telling them exactly where you are and that you need help.” The bracelet even goes as far as to call one’s phone and use that as an excuse to leave a situation.
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The founders say Flare is not just about selling a product, but rather starting the conversation about the sexual harassment and assault many people face.
“Over 80% of assaults happen with somebody you know in a familiar place,” Fitzgerald explained. After conducting their own third-party research for Flare, the co-founders found that “over 60% of people don’t take action when they get a red flag because they’re worried about making a situation worse.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three women and one in four men have experienced sexual violence that involved physical contact during their lifetime. Flare's bracelets come in 30 different styles and are available for both women and men.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasNews) has more:
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