What it’s essential to know
- Garmin launched its 2023 InReach SOS Report on Thursday, detailing the circumstances by which Garmin customers wanted emergency help.
- Customers had been mostly mountain climbing, driving, motorcycling, boating, mountaineering, or tenting when requiring SOS help.
- Garmin makes use of Iridium satellites and a 24/7 Garmin Response emergency service middle accessible in over 200 nations and 210 languages.
- Garmin has responded to over 10,000 SOS requests as of 2022.
Garmin has printed a report on when, the place, and in what context Garmin InReach customers despatched out an SOS warning all through 2023. In line with Garmin, its emergency response group answered requests throughout 100 nations and three oceans.
The 2023 SOS Yr in Evaluate report explains that their responses coated “aircraft crashes, grizzly bear encounters, sinking sailboats, skiers in avalanches, stranded divers, injured climbers,” and different incidents throughout six continents. The Garmin Response service coordinates with native EMS groups in over 200 nations.
The charts under present some fascinating insights for the context of when Garmin customers wanted saving. As an illustration, whereas maybe 1/3 of incidents befell whereas mountain climbing or backpacking, almost simply as many incidents had been reported whereas driving, motorcycling, or boating. For individuals dwelling in poor mobile protection, Garmin InReach additionally got here in useful for non-fitness or tenting conditions.
“Harm” or “medical challenge” had been two of the three commonest causes for an SOS, unsurprisingly, with automotive accidents taking the second-highest spot. Different requires assist got here when customers had been misplaced, stranded, in sight of a wildfire, or looking for one other lacking individual.
To that final level, Garmin additionally defined that lower than half of stories had been for the InReach consumer calling solely for themselves. Simply as many had been for touring companions or different teams that the customers noticed in peril.
Rounding out the information report, Garmin helped facilitate helicopters, ambulances, search and rescue, police response, automobile towing, and fireplace response, although the report additionally defined that it helped customers “self-rescue” 10% of the time, avoiding the expense of search and rescue. At current, Garmin expenses $39 per yr for SAR insurance coverage, on prime of InReach prices.
Though Garmin declined to publicly share the particular variety of instances an SOS was triggered, it did report in 2022 that it had responded to 10,000 SOS incidents after 11 years, with the quantity per yr seemingly growing over time.
SOS performance and satellite tv for pc connectivity for emergencies have develop into extra widespread options within the final couple of years, with manufacturers like Apple boasting in adverts about what number of lives they’ve saved. However it’s not all the time clear how vital it’s to on a regular basis individuals. This Garmin SOS report offers knowledge that might aid you resolve should you want InReach entry or one other satellite tv for pc service.
In lieu of satellite tv for pc knowledge, Garmin watches usually have fall detection, with the power to ship a message to emergency providers or your emergency contacts via your linked smartphone. If you happen to’re out of cell vary, nevertheless, you are out of luck.
What holds most individuals again from utilizing InReach is the fee. We have examined units just like the InReach Messenger and GPSMAP 67i which might be very helpful in emergencies however price fairly a bit upfront after which require an activation price and month-to-month price. In addition they allow you to message individuals exterior of emergencies or permit relations to trace your location in actual time in case you might be harm however fail to ship an SOS your self.
Nonetheless, a report like this, it turns into clearer that you simply’d reasonably have the choice accessible than not should you’re planning on an outside tour someplace with unreliable cell service.