Archive for October 16th, 2009
Expect the Unexpected When You’re off the Beaten Path
Earlier this week, a freak landslide wreaked havoc in the eastern part of the Washington State’s Cascade Mountains. According to estimates from emergency response workers, more than 1,500 people were forced from their homes or trapped in the area overnight. Geologists and seismologists hadn’t anticipated the rock slide is making State Route 410 completely impassable for the next several months.
Events like this just go to show that campers and rural residents can never be too careful. When you’re far away from medical facilities and other bastions of civilization, it’s important to have a lifeline. Personal locator beacons act as a link to the authorities and to those who can help you out of a jam. Even if you never need to use the beacon, it’s better to have peace of mind knowing you’re in constant contact.
Personal locator beacons are saving lives everyday worldwide. The COSPAS/SARSAT system of globally tracking 406MHz signals via satellites is proving to be a real life saving system. The system uses an array of satellites launched and monitored by Canada, the United States, France, and Russia to monitor and distress signal by a personal locator beacon (personal), emergency locator transmitter (aircraft), or an EPIRB (boat). This signal is immediately detected anywhere on the planet and transmitted to the nearest rescue facility. Personal locator beacons are very small and are being used everyday for saving the lives of boaters, pilots, hiker, campers, hunters, etc…