When a Personal GPS Locator Beacon Can Save Your Life

Time is of the essence during any emergency situation.  The quicker search and rescue teams can locate you and get you the help you need, the better your chance for survival. Once thought only applicable to those on the ocean and extreme backcountry athletes, the truth is, a personal GPS locator beacon is ideal for anyone concerned about their safety.  They are ideal for personal and family use, as well as for employer use to help ensure the safety of team members.  Anytime your safety depends on quick search and rescue, a personal GPS locator can save your life… urban environments, in the backcountry, or wherever you might need immediate assistance. 

Road Trips Or Daily Commutes                                                

A personal GPS locator beacon is more than just for individuals taking part in extreme sports or sailing the world.  In fact, they can be particularly helpful in the event of a car accident.  The news often speaks of accidents that happen in remote areas, where a vehicle leaves the road and ends up in a culvert, or along side a body of water.  It can be difficult for search and rescue teams to quickly locate and rescue these individuals; however, if one of the people’s in the vehicle as a personal locator beacon, teams can respond much more quickly.  These are idea for anyone that takes daily commutes through mountains, across plains, or through the desert.  Many cross-country trucking companies are requiring their drivers to carry these safety devices so that in the event of an accident they can be quickly rescued. 

Backcountry Skiing, Camping, Fishing or Hiking

Accidents can happen winter, spring, summer or fall. While hiking, fishing or skiing in the backcountry, an accident or bad weather can leave you stranded for days.  In those days, you could lose your life.  Search and rescue teams need as specific location information as possible to help get you to safety.  In many areas of the backcountry mobile phone service is non-existent, and mountains can block service for some satellite phones.  In these situations, a GPS enabled locator beacon accurately relays your position to a worldwide network of search and rescue satellites, notifying the nearest teams to dispatch to your location.  Look for a model with a built-in strobe light to allow rescuers to see you easily.

Boating and Sailing

 Search and rescue teams can have a particularly difficult time locating an individual or group in the water.  Visibility can be difficult in sunny weather, and in all forms of inclement weather.  Sun glare can prohibit your rescuers from quickly finding you, and high seas can present just as great of a challenge.  A waterproof personal beacon allows teams to quickly find you, regardless of weather conditions.  These small hand held units are light weight and compact enough to clip onto your belt or backpack, ensuring that it is ready and easily reached whenever you may need it.  

What To Look For In A Personal GPS Beacon

When considering the best beacon for your personal or professional use, it is important that it have some basic, and advanced features.  The unit must be easily activated, preferably with the touch of a single button.  The location range sent to search and rescue should be within 100 meters or less of your position.  An LED strobe light allows for rescue teams to quickly locate you within a short period, even from 100 meters.  The unit should be buoyant and waterproof, even if you are not planning on using it in maritime situations.  If you were to fall into a river, be caught up in a flood, or something similar, the unit needs to be able to stand up to the situation. 

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