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NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

noaa.gov

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Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#111

Post by jlgaddis »

iudqnolq wrote: post #95
nexuist wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a funny story from the 80s in which a cargo ship crew was awarded an exorbitant sum of money from the Royal Navy when one of their Harrier pilots got disoriented and, running out of fuel, chose to land on a van parked on the deck of the ship...

Wow! Thanks for sharing this. For others who found that interesting and wanted to know more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alraigo_incident

I found a picture as well: https://web.archive.org/web/20160513222453im_/http://forces....

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#112

Post by scarejunba »

alfalfasprout wrote: post #108
scarejunba wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Almost all the reviews for these are "haven't had to use". Look at this product https://www.amazon.com/ACR-ResQLink-400-Buoyant-Personal/dp/... 13 5-star ratings - everyone should have one, I haven't had to use mine but it gives me peace of mind 1 1-star rating - gave it to my son because he jet skis. After a while it was rusted. Gave it a shot, didn't work. Reminds me of this xkcd https://xkcd.com/937/

In the ResQLink manual it literally has you test it several times per year to verify correct operation. FWIW I've had mine 7 years and it's been through several battery replacements at the factory and been through several rough longer expeditions. No problems at all with the GPS test cycle.

Thanks for that. Is this the model you bought? https://www.amazon.com/ACR-ResQLink-400-Buoyant-Personal/dp/...

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#113

Post by sneak »

tdons wrote: post #50
rhcom2 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A good read about being unprepared for the desert is "The Hunt for the Death Valley Germans" which is an amateur's search for answers on how a German family of tourists abandoned their van in Death Valley and then disappeared. https://www.otherhand.org/home-page/search-and-rescue/the-hu...

This website cost me a weekend once :-)

That and the website of the desert hunter who found the crashed SR71 should come with some rabbit hole warning labels. :)

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#114

Post by sneak »

JarlUlvi wrote: post #5
vegardx wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love to see some actual statistics on this. This assumes that people knowingly do something dangerous and are choosing to ignore it because they think someone can just come and save them. I would argue that this is unlikely, unprepared people are unprepared in all aspects of it. Carrying a cellphone doens't mean they thought of it as some kind of security measurement. People just rarely go somewhere without it. T…

It only takes one trip/slip/fall, one rock slide, one sprain, one break, one break, one deadfall, one snake, one asthma attack, one sting, or one rabid animal to turn an outdoor trip into a potential life or death situation. 99.99% of the times I've spend in the forest and desert has been "safe". It is the .01% and .001%s that get you.

That’s why I have two PLBs. Two is one and one is none.

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#115

Post by 1123581321 »

mjevans wrote: post #83
tlrobinson wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have heard from other SAR groups that the beacons have been a mixed bag, and they're getting too many call-outs from people who just got tired and want a ride home. It seems like charging people for the cost of the rescue would solve that problem.

How about if a judge gets to decide if they are required to be force-enrolled in to a class that teaches safety in similarly fitting situations and/or some quantity of community service from a list of activities that are fitting of rehabilitation and improving the commons.

Those would enormously prohibit calling in, more than money for many people due to the potential public embarrassment, let alone the time, extra required PTO and potential cognitive load from the legal situation.

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#116

Post by greatpatton »

pyromine wrote: post #100
thaumaturgy wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

SAR and Mountain Rescue Association groups are almost entirely opposed to any form of pay-for-rescue, including the kind of "negligence fines" that a few agencies like New Hampshire's Fish and Game department levies. It's not just a theoretical possibility that people will hesitate to call for rescue if they think they'll be charged for it, it's something that has already happened in a lot of cases. When people delay…

Just as an anecdote I received a fairly significant injury while on a multi-day climb in the French Alps this past summer and my climbing partner and I had a significant discussion regarding the cost of a rescue that definitely factored in to our decision whether or not to keep climbing. I bought rescue insurance the next day.

In France mountain rescue is provided free of charge by the french state (only exception is when you are skiing on an official ski run). In Switzerland it’s not free, and almost all the population is a member of the 2 main associations that will cover the costs.

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#117

Post by cameldrv »

alfalfasprout wrote: post #106
thaumaturgy wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in search and rescue near the Tahoe area. So far we've had good luck with beacon call-outs. The cases we've responded to have almost entirely been folks that were legitimately stuck or lost, and yes, they were somewhat under-prepared for the situation they were in, but that's just the modern reality of outdoor play and it makes no more sense to expect all recreationists to be perfectly prepared than it makes to e…

What are your thoughts on two-way communicators eg; inReach? I've largely replaced my PLB with an inReach (though when in a group I have another person carry the PLB) because in an emergency situation I can communicate with rescuers about the exact nature of the emergency. Eg; if I need an air evac vs. I broke my leg and can't walk out. Or if I can get medical advice from a rescuer. Similarly I can communicate danger…

The InReach is far superior. You can communicate with rescuers, but you can also communicate with anyone with a phone number or an email address. This is extremely useful if you have a minor emergency and just need a friend to pick you up at a road somewhere or you just need more food or water. On the other hand, you can also tell rescuers that you need a helicopter immediately and not wait for people to hike to where you are.

The InReach also has tracking, so if you go missing and don't activate the beacon, they'll have a very good idea of where to look for you. I've also found it very useful for arranging pickups/meetings if I'm behind schedule or plans change.

The device itself is about the same price as a PLB, but there is a service charge. The basic plan is $15/mo, but you can turn it on and off at any time, so if you only go on a couple of trips per year, the price isn't overwhelmingly more than a PLB.

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#118

Post by briandear »

thaumaturgy wrote: post #98
tlrobinson wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have heard from other SAR groups that the beacons have been a mixed bag, and they're getting too many call-outs from people who just got tired and want a ride home. It seems like charging people for the cost of the rescue would solve that problem.

SAR and Mountain Rescue Association groups are almost entirely opposed to any form of pay-for-rescue, including the kind of "negligence fines" that a few agencies like New Hampshire's Fish and Game department levies. It's not just a theoretical possibility that people will hesitate to call for rescue if they think they'll be charged for it, it's something that has already happened in a lot of cases. When people delay…

> SAR and Mountain Rescue Association groups are almost entirely opposed to any form of pay-for-rescue

However, people that spend much time away from civilization ought to have Global Rescue or something similar. I support government and non profit rescue efforts and funding, but ultimately people participating in relatively risky adventures should bear some responsibility for having rescue insurance — and such insurance is pretty cheap. I’ve seen hikers with $300 hiking poles, $300 hiking boots, expensive GoreTex and yet they scoff at paying for insurance to cover the very expensive costs for rescue. A helicopter can cost $1000+ per hour to operate and people going into the backcountry are assuming a level of risk that they ought to be responsible for insuring.

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#119

Post by ChuckMcM »

jxcl wrote: post #2

I have one of these beacons and take it with me most times I'm going out alone into the wilderness. I don't want to be the guy who had to cut his own arm off after it got trapped by a falling boulder. That being said, this is an interesting spin on the number. I've been hearing from friends on Search and Rescue crews that an increasing number of people are going out hiking being completely unprepared for any possible…

After reading about a CNET employee dying on their way home in the mountains because they were out of cell service on winter roads and were stuck I got one. We are on our second one, the new ones are even smaller than the originals, and carry it with us when ever we travel, especially in the back country.

It is the best/cheapest insurance one can buy.

Re: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

#120

Post by Proven »

thaumaturgy wrote: post #62
jxcl wrote: post #2

I have one of these beacons and take it with me most times I'm going out alone into the wilderness. I don't want to be the guy who had to cut his own arm off after it got trapped by a falling boulder. That being said, this is an interesting spin on the number. I've been hearing from friends on Search and Rescue crews that an increasing number of people are going out hiking being completely unprepared for any possible…

I'm in search and rescue near the Tahoe area. So far we've had good luck with beacon call-outs. The cases we've responded to have almost entirely been folks that were legitimately stuck or lost, and yes, they were somewhat under-prepared for the situation they were in, but that's just the modern reality of outdoor play and it makes no more sense to expect all recreationists to be perfectly prepared than it makes to e…

> I have heard from other SAR groups that the beacons have been a mixed bag, and they're getting too many call-outs from people who just got tired and want a ride home. Those people deserve a verbal chewing-out from the local coordinator

When one pays for something, they get more if it.

People should be asked to pay or commit to paying before they're rescued.

Considering the budget of these satellites the cost per life rescued is probably in excess of $100K. As long as the US government can print money with impunity, this won't stop.

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