Good SPOT/PLB Info

[TobyGadd]

There's been lots of discussion and speculation on this site (and others) about SPOT/PLB benefits, limitations, etc. But I haven't heard much official from the guys who actually use these devices to rescue people--at least until I came across this website:

http://www.rockymountainrescue.org/about_PLBs.php

Most of it's pretty basic for those who have some experience, but it's nice to know what the guys on the OTHER end of an emergency are thinking. Definitely a good read for anyone who got a new gizmo for Christmas.

[Curtis C]

On the PLB Spot threads, I always recommend that the user talk to their S&R crews and ask how they handle SPOT/PLB emergency request. A lot of people just assume S&R will jump in the truck and start heading out to get them, but a lot more goes into the rescue before they leave the shop.

Thanks for the link. I will read it to see how similar it is to the info I got from El Paso County S&R.


Curtis

[TobyGadd]

Yep, I put a lot of information in my Spot profile. The one time that I activated 911 on my Spot (for another hiker who was having a heart attack), Spot relayed my profile information to the SAR team. Afterward, they said that they appreciated knowing a little about my level of experience before heading out.