Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to monitor the personal safety of a user of a portable electronic device are disclosed. Example portable electronic devices disclosed herein are to adjust a threshold alert level based on event information obtained for a location associated with the portable electronic device, the threshold alert level to indicate a degree of danger to which a user of the portable electronic device is exposed. Disclosed example portable electronic devices are also to determine that the threshold alert level has been satisfied when at least a threshold number of a set of usage attributes associated with the threshold alert level are detected in a monitored set of usage attributes. Disclosed example portable electronic devices are further to actuate an output device associated with the portable electronic device when the threshold alert level is satisfied.