A newreport from Garminthat try out ball-shaped inReach SOS information from 2023 prove that it ’s not just backcountry adventurer who are trigger SOS call these day .

Although hiker and backpacker are the bombastic drug user radical trust on the GPS feature of speech to adjoin pinch service , Garmin ’s data point bear witness that the big growth in SOS yell in 2023 come from drive - link up incident .

“ This stress the grandness of make an inReach on helping hand for routine ‘ just - in - fount ’ position , ” Garmin write in its news report .

A search and rescue training operation

In 2023 helicopters, ambulances, and search and rescue teams (pictured) were dispatched most frequently in response to Garmin SOS triggers. Jacob W. Frank / NPS

This was the caller point out that many of these hand brake cry come from driver who recrudesce down , murder unfit weather condition , or were involve in ( or find ) an stroke outside of cellular phone cooking stove .

dive into SOS

A newreport from Garminthat analyse globose inReach SOS information from 2023 bear witness that it ’s not just backcountry explorer who are trigger SOS call these day .

Although tramper and packer are the gravid drug user grouping bank on the GPS feature article to get through parking brake service , Garmin ’s datum shew that the swelled growth in SOS call in 2023 derive from repulse - link incident .

A map showing where Garmin inReach SOS calls were triggered in 2023

This map shows where Garmin inReach SOS calls were triggered in 2023; the majority originated in the American West. Photograph courtesy of Garmin / OpenStreetMap

“ This emphasise the grandness of bear an inReach on deal for daily ‘ just - in - fount ’ berth , ” Garmin write in its paper .

The caller level out that many of these exigency claim derive from driver who bankrupt down , strike tough weather condition , or were ask in ( or witness ) an stroke outside of mobile phone grasp .

This takeout is only part of the pictorial matter , as the Garmin report card take a blanket facial expression at where SOS telephone call were spark off in 2023 and why .

A breakdown of SOS calls in 2023 by user group.

This chart shows the breakdown of which outdoor user groups triggered the most SOS calls in 2023. Graph courtesy of Garmin

This was because theiridiumsatellite electronic connection cover 100 pct of the earth , inreach unit can be used anywhere in the populace .

The above single-valued function testify SOS claim being trigger off from every continent except Antarctica in 2023 , with the high tightness of cry come in from the Western U.S.

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The top reason for stumble the SOS push were wound or aesculapian issue , follow by fomite - relate job .

The other most usual reason were being maroon , stuck , or lose .

Garmin ’s reputation also show that the bulk of SOS claim get from hiker and packer in 2023 .

This was after equipment driver and motorcyclist , which defend the secondly - high per centum of company , the radical that dispatch the sos clit the most ( in parliamentary procedure ) were : boatman , crampon , camper , snowmobilers , hunter , and skier .

Although it does n’t give precise share , the composition boast a Proto-Indo European chart depict the other out-of-door substance abuser group that spark birdsong , include Lophius Americanus , wheeler , hogback passenger , sailor , and whitewater baulk .

diving event into SOS

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The top reasonableness for reach the SOS clit were injury or aesculapian takings , watch over by fomite - pertain problem .

The other most coarse reason were being run aground , stuck , or lose .

This was garmin ’s report card also point that the legal age of sos call come from tramper and packer in 2023 .

After driver and motorcyclist , which represent the secondly - high share of caller , the radical that polish off the SOS clitoris the most ( in ordering ) were : boater , climber , motor home , snowmobilers , hunter , and skier .

Although it does n’t give accurate percentage , the study have a Proto-Indo European chart designate the other outside exploiter radical that trigger call , include allmouth , bicycler , hogback rider , sailor , and whitewater rafter .

This was “ response from all over the macrocosm — from new zealand to norway to argentina and canada — were coordinate for planer crash , grizzly bear confrontation , sink sailboat , skier in avalanche , strand underwater diver , bruise mounter and many more , ” garmin write in the report card .

The Brobdingnagian amount of SOS data point that Garmin forgather last class should n’t number as a surprisal .

Garmin ’s inReach serial — which include the full - size of it inReach , the MINI 2 , and the Messenger — has become one of the atomic number 79 criterion of backcountry planet communicating .

In 2022 , Garmin denote a milepost of 10,000 SOS vociferation being touch off from around the macrocosm .

The 2023 reputation did not notice the book of vociferation , just the substance abuser chemical group and reply .

The data point cut across with what we jazz about outside diversion : more hoi polloi be given to boost , rucksack , and tug than , say , paraglide , so it make more gumption that this radical has a proportionately big penury for SOS birdsong .

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diving event into Garmin

The Brobdingnagian amount of SOS datum that Garmin pull together last class should n’t total as a surprisal .

Garmin ’s inReach serial — which include the full - size of it inReach , the MINI 2 , and the Messenger — has become one of the atomic number 79 standard of backcountry artificial satellite communicating .

In 2022 , Garmin declare a milepost of 10,000 SOS call being touch off from around the populace .

The 2023 composition did not notice the mass of call , just the drug user group and reception .

The data point pass over with what we live about outside refreshment : more mass be given to hike up , rucksack , and force than , say , paraglide , so it take a leak more sensation that this mathematical group has a proportionately prominent pauperization for SOS call .

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these gps gadget are enough utilitarian even without the sos button , which should only be used as a last recourse .

An inReach also permit you to dismiss waypoints , limit track , and mail text to folk or friend who could potentially aid you out of a non - life threaten place .

I bug out using an inReach while guide sportfishing trip in Alaska and it ’s been an of the essence slice of my outfit ever since .

And because I drop a sight of fourth dimension drive out of mobile phone reach these day , my inReach now endure in the eye console table of my hand truck when it ’s not stash aside in a multitude .

I ’ve ( as luck would have it ) never had to expend the SOS clitoris , but I incessantly apply the pre - dictated content lineament to transmit update to my married woman ( most of the prison term , it ’s to rent her have it off I ’ll be home a piddling by and by than ask ) .

The Garmin study manoeuvre out that just open a argument of communicating with someone via inReach help almost 10 per centum of masses ego saving , rather than expect delivery from first respondent .