Garmin SOS report particulars all of the instances its InReach satellites saved individuals’s lives final 12 months

What you’ll want to know

• Garmin launched its 2023 InReach SOS Report on Thursday, detailing the circumstances wherein Garmin customers wanted emergency help.
• Customers have been mostly 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 out there 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 Overview 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 beneath present some attention-grabbing insights for the context of when Garmin customers wanted saving. For example, whereas maybe 1/3 of incidents passed off whereas climbing or backpacking, practically simply as many incidents have been reported whereas driving, motorcycling, or boating. For individuals residing in poor mobile protection, Garmin InReach additionally got here in helpful for non-fitness or tenting conditions.  

“Harm” or “medical challenge” have been two of the three commonest causes for an SOS, unsurprisingly, with automobile accidents taking the second-highest spot. Different requires assist got here when customers have been misplaced, stranded, in sight of a wildfire, or looking for one other lacking particular person. 

To that final level, Garmin additionally defined that lower than half of reviews have been for the InReach consumer calling solely for themselves. Simply as many have been for touring companions or different teams that the customers noticed at risk. 

Rounding out the info 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 fees $39 per 12 months for SAR insurance coverage, on high of InReach prices.

Though Garmin declined to publicly share the precise 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 12 months possible growing over time. 

SOS performance and satellite tv for pc connectivity for emergencies have turn into extra common 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 essential it’s to on a regular basis individuals. This Garmin SOS report offers information that might show you how to determine should you want InReach entry or one other satellite tv for pc service. 

In lieu of satellite tv for pc information, Garmin watches usually have fall detection, with the power to ship a message to emergency companies or your emergency contacts via your related smartphone. If you happen to’re out of cell vary, nonetheless, you are out of luck.