Garmin inReach Has Hit Milestone Of Lending A Helping Hand In Over 10,000 Incidents
Garmin has hit a milestone of 10,000 SOS incidents with an inReach® device. Garmin offers a wide variety of handheld devices with inReach technology allowing for two-way text messaging, location tracking, and critical SOS emergency response services, providing peace of mind to individuals around the world.
“With Garmin inReach’s two-way communication and 24/7 staffed coordination center, help is never out of reach. We are honored to provide this potentially life-saving service and gratified to be the satellite communication device of choice for adventurers all over the world. Whether on the drive home from a trip or exploring the globe, having an inReach device nearby provides peace of mind that you can quickly connect with emergency coordinators, as well as friends and family.”
Insights from 10,000 SOS Incidents
Garmin ResponseSM has coordinated inReach SOS incidents in more than 150 countries and on all seven continents since 2011.
Mountain regions such as the Pacific Crest Trail, the European Alps, and nearly all of New Zealand seem to have a high propensity for SOS incidents; however, emergencies don’t just happen in remote areas. Cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix and Aspen have all reported SOS incidents ranging from cycling to hiking.
No one expects to have a medical emergency or injury. However, combined these two incidents represent nearly 50% of the global SOS incidents2, highlighting the preparedness inReach provides users to meet unexpected or unforeseen events.
The top five activities that produced incidents include hiking/backpacking, driving, motorcycling, climbing/mountaineering, and boating.
Nearly one in five incidents were triggered by a good Samaritan, who purchased a device for their own peace of mind but were able to assist someone else in need.
The second highest number of SOS triggers (12%) comes from driving incidents, proving SOS needs don’t only occur in high-risk situations. Many driving SOS incidents involve people simply needing help while on the road and outside of cellphone service.
inReach incidents include a variety of unique instances including pet emergencies, unexpected natural disasters, and even reuniting a child with their parent.
Thanks to a dedicated SOS button and 100% global Iridium® satellite network coverage, Garmin inReach users can quickly report an SOS should an emergency occur. Once an SOS is reported, even if no other action is taken by the user, the device sends a distress message to Garmin Response, a 24/7-staffed professional emergency response coordination center. Garmin Response will communicate with the individual in distress, their listed emergency contacts, and applicable Search & Rescue organizations and other available local resources. They will deliver a confirmation when help is on the way, provide updates on the status of the response effort, and will remain engaged until the incident is resolved.
Learn more about their 10,000th incident over on Garmin’s blog.
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