A Cape Breton software company has created a cellphone app for students which combines a global positioning system with text messaging, allowing school staff to find a student within seconds of an emergency.

The app, created by Keltic Tek, would allow a student in trouble to activate the app and send a message to the school's office. The app would automatically give staff the student's location.

Stephanie Timmer, the company's founder, said the app could be used for a variety of purposes.

"It could be from peanut allergies to bullying, you may have an individual who may be suicidal," she said.

"Help is only a push button away. It could be kids that are scared to go to school, but now with help a fingertip away, they may have the courage to go. That's really what we're looking at helping."

Timmer, who is also an American Paralympic track and field medalist, has designed dozens of tech products. She came to Cape Breton eight years ago she said she fell in love with the place.

"I spend most of my time in the Chicago area which is very busy and hectic and I come up here for a good breath of fresh air," she told CBC News.

Soon after moving to Cape Breton, Timmer set up the company Premier Assistive Canada, which produces literacy technology for schools and employs eight people full time.

Timmer said Keltic Tek's alert system is being piloted in a few schools in the United States and she hopes to try it in Cape Breton schools soon. If the app takes off, the company could hire 30 people over the next year or so.