10,000 calls for help: Garmin inReach data reveals who triggers SOS signals the most

[Pivo]

Data from the company reveals that roughly 50 percent of all global SOS incidents are related to medical emergencies or injuries, with the five activities that result in the most incidents being hiking/backpacking (39 percent), driving (12 percent), motorcycling, climbing/mountaineering, and boating.

https://www.outtherecolorado.com/news/1 ... 79ebb.html

[herdbull]

@Pivo
for me (CCSAR) here in the mountains of Colorado I would say roughly 12%-15% of our calls are people who are tired, not necessarily lost but misplaced by a few 100 feet, or "just can't go any further" and need to be walked out by holding hands. There's zero threat of anything bad that is going to happen to them but they push the button or call 911 anyway. On the flip side we average more than 3 recoveries a year in the mountains right outside of town.

In the end more and more people are carrying devices to call for help. Which is a very good thing. Sometimes they just need a bit more discretion before calling 911 and setting things in motion. It's a pretty big ordeal to set a mission in place all the way from state directors, to county Sheriffs to dozens of volunteers that may show up just to walk someone a quarter mile to their car. In this day and age people are not wanting to endure a bit of discomfort to make it back to their vehicle safely.

[Pivo]

n this day and age people are not wanting to endure a bit of discomfort to make it back to their vehicle safely.

I would endure a lot of discomfort to avoid being "That Guy" and appearing on the 10 PM News.

[hikeaz]

Would be interesting to learn which state (U.S.) yields the most calls. Or rather the state that the inReach owner hails from.

[herdbull]

We've been averaging about 3000 calls in the state of Colorado the last few years.

https://www.coloradosar.org/statistics/

[DixieFlyer]

Would be interesting to learn which state (U.S.) yields the most calls.

I would guess either Colorado or California

[azbackpackr]

@herdbull
But that is not 3,000 Garmin Inreach calls, is it? That's 3,000 calls for help.

[herdbull]

@azbackpackr
it's a mix of all calls that make it to us. At least in our county. Some are Spot, some are InReach and others are 911. Technically we're dispatched by the local Sheriff's office no matter where the call comes in from. There is also a small %, maybe 3%-5% that are oopsies. We've had it happen here. Someone "accidentally" hits the 911 on their phone.

There is a slight issue with some of these services though and I don't think it's being tackled at any level. With these devices, when you hit "help" you call or signal goes to a central agency in charge or responding. Think farmed out telemarketers. We've had the service provider contact us and the person on the other end knows absolutely zilch about the hiking, climbing or the backcountry. It's somewhat frustrating. Getting them to release the call/info to SAR quickly and promptly is what we attempt to do so we can assess the situation and do a risk assessment of the situation. That dictates assets use or call upon.

[azbackpackr]

@herdbull
That's interesting. Thanks for taking the time to explain some of the details. I often wonder if in some counties that don't have a very good search and rescue dept. or team, if having a Spot or Garmin would be of much use at all. Who's going to come for you?

[herdbull]

@azbackpackr
they would send someone eventually. It may just take more time to formulate a plan and put together a "team". My hunch would be the local sheriff would somehow handle it or call a neighboring SAR team. We get called out on assist calls to neighboring counties every summer when they need extra help.