Walking to and from school used to be the norm when we were kids. You didn't think twice about it. Now, with the world feeling so much more dangerous for our kids, the thought of letting them walk puts fear in the hearts of many parents. We want them to be safe but we also want them to have a taste of the freedom that we were able to enjoy by roaming the neighbourhood.

iSAFE Backpacks may be the answer. This line of backpacks and messenger bags have all the usual compartments for books and papers as well as cell phones and ipods, but what makes these bags different is that they come equipped with a built-in personal alarm and red strobe light. Concealed under a flap on the shoulder strap, the alarm is activated by simply pulling the cord. You can watch the video demonstration here.

iSAFE bags comes in a variety of colours and fabric designs. They are designed for people ages 8 and  up and the pack weighs only 2.3 pounds with the alarm batteries. Not bad at all.

iSAFE backpacks and messenger bags are available online starting at $39.99.