Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

Lost Hiker Posts GPS Coordinates On Facebook

November 30th, 2012

“Anyone in the Portland area with crampons, an ice axe, a car, and Tuesday night and Wednesday off of work wanna go on an adventure?” Jeffrey Kish posted the previous message on his Facebook before heading out on a hiking trip on Mount Hood. The 30-year-old Portland resident became lost in bad weather and used social media to alert his friends. He was rescued from the mountain at around 2 a.m., mostly unscathed.

Shortly after beginning his decent down the mountain, Kish stumbled upon some bad weather. He became lost in whiteout conditions. He told reporters at KGW.com that he realized he was in trouble after visibility was reduced significantly and slipping several times. Fortunately he was prepared with a GPS tracking device and posted his coordinated on his Facebook page along with the following message: “Ok Guys. I have no idea where I am, other than right on the edge of some gnarly cliff. Too far east or west?”

Another status update reads “You’re gonna hear about it in the news anyway, may as well spill it myself. Got stuck in a storm on the summit of Mt. Hood. Stuck on cliffs over 10,000′ in a white out. Called 911 after several hours of trying to self rescue. Search and rescue has been notified. Wish me luck!”

Kish is an experienced hiker and had hiked the Pacific Crest Trail this summer, according to his Facebook information. As any experienced outdoorsman, he was prepared for bad weather. Along with a GPS device, he also had enough supplies for a few days.

The search and rescue team followed the GPS data and found no one at the original coordinates provided. Kish sent the team updated GPS location information and they found him wrapped in a sleeping bag.”These guys saved my life,” he said. The rescue team spent a few hours warming Kish, before removing him from the mountain.

Limerick Water Safety Program Uses GPS Technology

October 30th, 2012

GPS technology has done wonders for emergency response teams and adventurers alike. GPS devices provide skiers, hikers, climbers, boaters, and all kinds of outdoor adventurers security in case of emergency. Being out in the wilderness is appealing to many in the modern world, but this sense of adventure comes with risks. Getting lost or injured away from civilization can be fatal without timely help. Fortunately, most modern adventurers know enough to carry a GPS device with them. Not only can these handy tools help hikers find their way back to camp, but the location information can also be used to let rescue teams find stranded or injured people as fast as possible.

The Limerick County Council, Cork-based Loc8 Code, and Irish Water Safety have teamed up to make the rivers in Ireland even safer. These groups have launched a pilot program, equipping 86 ring buoys along with Loc8 codes. The Loc8 codes contain GPS coordinates, which can be given to rescue operations in the event of an emergency. “The code is also compatible with sat-nav systems and on the web to help emergency service navigate to the relevant location,” Brian Kennedy explained, a Limerick County water safety development. These ringbuoys are located along the River Shannon and estuary, River Mulcair, River Maigue, and various other waterside location in the Limerick County area.

“The placing of these codes on ring buoys and their holders in Limerick will help to further improve the emergency services’ response times when dealing with an emergency incident,” Gary Delaney said, CEO of Loc8 Codes. The ringbuoys can help pull people in the river back onto the shore, but their stations now also serve as land markers. With GPS technology, emergency response teams can tell exactly where a specific buoy is, greatly improving the speed and efficiency with which they carry out a rescue. Here is yet another example of how this technology can save lives.

Safe Tracks Program In Canada Gives Abuse Survivors Peace Of Mind

October 28th, 2012

A pilot program is being tested in Red Deer, Alberta, helping to give women trying to leave an abusive relationship peace of mind. It can’t necessarily prevent an attack, but provides women who are at-risk of being attacked by their ex-partner with a small GPS tracking device with an S.O.S. button. The S.O.S. device is connected to a 24-hour monitoring service. “It’s the size of a small cellphone,” Ian Wheeliker said, the executive director of the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter. “It gives 911 their exact longitude and latitude and can be mapped by a street address so the police know exactly where to respond to.”

“When they get the distress call, the software provides them with the police service in the geographic location she’s in,” Wheeliker explained. “The police service that would be quickest to respond is contacted and given her location. Then all the critical notes are available to the monitoring centre and the local police. If there’s any emergency protection orders in place, the ages and names of any children and the schools they might attend. All the critical information police may need, along with any outstanding charges. They get an awful lot of information. They know what they’re dealing with.”

“The women who are carrying it say they feel safer and more secure,” he said. “Thankfully, we haven’t had a tragedy during the piloting.” The program is paid for by the Alberta Victims of Crime Fund and began in 2010 and there are currently nine women carrying these Safe Tracks GPS devices. Since the program began, these women have used the devices six times. The current pilot is slated to end in July 2013, and many nearby women’s shelters are watching closely. “We’ll be applying to continue it with another three-year grant,” Wheeliker said. “We’re hoping it will become part of our sustainable services.”

AAA FindMe Service Helps Tow Trucks Locate You

October 27th, 2012

AAA is a wonderful service, as many know across the country. Members enjoy all kinds of discounts and benefits, including tow truck service when they’re stranded. Just about every driver knows the dread of getting a flat tire, having an overheated engine, or simply locking the keys in the car. We’re all so glad to have AAA membership in those moments; and then comes the wait. For one reason or another, tow trucks can seem to take forever to get to your vehicle. With AAA’s free new FindMe service, tow trucks in the area can access your location using your smartphone’s built-in GPS tracking technology.

It can be difficult enough to give helpful directions to a tow truck driver in a city with cross streets and addresses. For people with a flat tire in the middle of a dark highway, or on a swampy side road, it can be nearly impossible for a tow truck driver to find you in any reasonable amount of time. Thankfully, AAA is moving forward to get you the help you need when you need it. They are using GPS technology and smartphone apps to help tow trucks find drivers who need help. Currently, the free app works on any GPS-enabled smartphone with a Sprint or AT&T contract.

AAA has always been great at giving driver’s peace of mind while driving, without breaking the bank. The new FindMe app is no different. As if getting a flat or some other vehicle malfunction wasn’t stressful enough, giving difficult directions to a tow truck driver and waiting can make the experience almost unbearable. The FindMe app allows technology to take a lot of that burden off your shoulders. The only real draw back is that it’s only available to members with Sprint or AT&T smartphones. Hopefully AAA is working on expanding the app’s compatibility to make the service available to the rest of their smartphone-owning members.

Unnecessary Rescues Due to Technology?

October 1st, 2012

Use of smartphones, GPS devices, emergency locator devices, and other technological devices like it have led to a rise in backcountry rescues where the caller doesn’t truly need assistance, putting the lives of rescuers in jeopardy.

Search-and-rescue teams say that the rise of the use of these types of devices have folks sending out false alerts, as well as people who take a route they probably aren’t experienced enough to take, feeling that the device they are carrying protects them from any harm. There is a rise in people carrying PLBs, or personal locator beacons, out into the woods where with a press of a button, emergency is summoned giving the GPS coordinates of the person in distress. However, emergency crews have no way of knowing exactly why this distress signal is sent out.

Search and rescue coordinator for the California Emergency Management Agency, Matt Scharper, refers to these PLBs as “yuppie 911′s.” He said, “You send a message to a satellite and the government pulls your butt out of something you shouldn’t have been in in the first place.” Nick Parker, Alaskan wilderness rescue veteran of 45 years, agrees: “The real issue is one of training (or lack thereof), and our dependence on gizmos to save us. People expect a rescue in the same way they expect a fire engine or ambulance to come when they dial 911.”

Here’s an example: back in 2009, four hikers carrying a SPOT satellite tracking device while hiking in a remote part of the Grand Canyon pushed the help button. Rangers responded the next day by helicopter, finding the hikers did not need to be evacuated at all. Rather, they were fearful they would run short of water. They pushed the button again the next day, prompting another visit by helicopter, and all the men wanted was to complain that the water provided to them “tasted salty.” The third time they pushed the button, the rangers had had enough, loading them all onto the helicopter and removing them from the canyon, citing the leader of the group for creating a hazardous condition.

Although this is an extreme case, false alerts are happening a lot more often. In 2010, hikers in Grand Teton National Park asked for help down the mountain, with one of them requesting hot chocolate be flown in. In the US, hikers are sometimes charged for an unnecessary rescue. However, rescue teams try not to do this too often. According to Jeff Sparhawk, public information officer for the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group based in Boulder, CO said, “We don’t want people not to call for a rescue because they think they can’t afford it. Then they’re likely to get into deeper trouble and trigger a more dangerous rescue.”

Even Scharper knows that PLBs are useful despite the fact he calls them “yuppie 911′s.” “PLBs have saved a lot of lives, and as the technology develops, the problem will partly solve itself. Instead of a ’911 hangup’” – the distress signal attached to the person’s GPS coordinates – “we’ll be able to text back and forth. We’ll be able to talk a lost hiker back to safety without going out to get him, or putting any rescuers at risk.”

As an avid hiker, I can agree with these expert opinions. There are too many people reliant on these devices that can fail, rather than using their common sense: following trail markers, staying on the designated trail, or the worst scenario, being poorly prepared for weather conditions. Despite a hiker’s experience level, one should always prepare for a trip in unfamiliar territory: pack for any weather conditions, familiarize yourself with the trail ahead of time, carry a map along as backup, and do not hike terrain you aren’t comfortable with. Above all, have the common sense to realize that the need for hot chocolate is not one which requires search-and-rescue response.

Kansas City, MO: LifeFlight Eagle Wins GPS Approach/Departure Auction

September 18th, 2012

Satellite Technology International (STI) and the Association of Critical Care Transport (ACCT) teamed up to offer up for auction Helicopter GPS approach and departure, proceeds to benefit further safety enhancements in the world of medical helicopters. This transaction guarantees Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in the Kansas City, MO area operates a little safer. The GPS approach and departure, worth $25,000, was donated by STI to ACCT so that they could include it as an item to be auctioned.

GPS approach and departure procedures for helicopters traveling to locations that are not an airport, like a hospital, only exist when a person or company develops its installation. They are necessary, in conjunction with instrument flight rules (IFR) operation, to ensure the safety of the crew and passengers in the event the weather takes a turn for the worst, decreasing visibility and lowering ceiling heights. These GPS systems give medical helicopters the power to reach hospitals or accident scenes safely no matter what the conditions, while also giving patients a better chance at survival as the GPS systems save time. If it weren’t for GPS approaches and departures, all helicopters, including those flying IFR, would be forced to land at an airport with instrument approaches.

The auction took place at an annual meeting held at ACCT in Colorado Springs, CO. It was determined that LifeFlight Eagle, based in Kansas City, MO, was the winner. LifeFlight Eagle plans on using the GPS approach onboard LFE 4, the company’s helicopter that flies exclusively to Children’s Mercy Hospital. Dick Whipple, VP of Operations for LifeFlight Eagle, said, “It is important for LifeFlight Eagle to support the safety and mission of the Children’s Mercy Program. Our goal is to build and expand the aviation infrastructure to better serve the region and continue to implement measures to enhance safety.”

The Director of Critical Care Transport for Children’s Mercy Hospital, Sherry McCool, said, “Expanding IFR operations at our program will improve safety for our patients and crew. IFR will allow us to complete additional flights we otherwise would have to complete by ground, thus possibly delaying care to critically ill infants and children.”

Greg Keller, president of STI, was pleased LifeFlight Eagle won the auction, although it was a tough finish, with a swarm of bids coming in minute by minute, up until the last minute from all over the country. “Satellite Technology International would like to congratulate LifeFlight Eagle and Children’s Mercy Critical Care Transport of Kansas City, MO on their winning bid for the helicopter GPS approach offered through the ACCT-sponsored silent auction. Choosing to fly IFR is a significant safety enhancement for flight crews as well as patients.” Keller was also happy to hear that ACCT planned on using the proceeds to improve safety in the entire medical helicopter community.

ACCT’s executive director Lisa Tofil thanked the STI for their auction donation. “On behalf of the members of ACCT, we sincerely appreciate STI’s donation of the installation of a helicopter GPS approach and departure. GPS infrastructure into hospitals is made possible only through the investment of an individual air medical program or company. Someone must purchase these enhancements for them to become a reality. This purchase by LifeFlight Eagle is a reflection of their commitment to improving safety and care for critically ill neonatal and pediatric patients.” This is the second time STI has donated a GPS approach to ACCT for auction.

Streamlining Communication When It’s Most Important

September 14th, 2012

Have you ever misunderstood a text message? Deleted an email because you thought it wasn’t important, when it actually was? Given up on a garbled phone message? These glitches are frustrating, but in the context of an emergency situation, they can mean the difference between preventing or failing to prevent tragedy. People in groups titled Critical Incident Response Teams (CIRTs) have to avoid misunderstanding in communication as much as possible if they are to function effectively, and a new GPS enabled software allows them to do so.

A CIRT can be a police force, a disaster response team, or emergency workers; the term simply describes a team of individuals that address a critical situation. The members of the team, and especially the leader, need frequent updates on positions, activities, and any problems that the team encounters, and in the past this has been done through walkie-talkies, text messages, and even emails. Besides the potential for error, all of these and the other common forms of communication have the disadvantage of taking the attention of team members off the emergency at hand. Even walkie-talkies must be held in one hand, and the simple act of talking out loud can be enough to distract a responder for a critical second.

Mobile Innovations has developed a GPS enabled, secure team coordination software that makes updates as simple and quick as possible. In its simplest version, a team member touches the screen of his or her Blackberry phone and the other members immediately receive an update, including the team member’s location on a map. This immediate action, prompted by the smallest of motions on the part of the team member, leaves the individual free to focus on his responsibility. Because the system works across the Blackberry phone network, it doesn’t matter how spread out the team is; instantaneous messages keep all team members notified of any changes.

The GPS system costs a force or company very little, making it even more attractive. The high security of the Blackberry network on which it operates makes it reliable, and the simple functionality reduces confusion stemming from fast typing or talking by team members in dire situations.

2-Way Pendant Takes Senior Safety to the Next Level

September 13th, 2012

Families all over the U.S. breathe more easily since the invention of easy-to-use emergency alert tools. From smartphones to GPS devices, and home alarm systems, technology is improving the speed with which emergencies can be addressed. These safety items feature long lasting batteries and the ability to broadcast an alert signal to a service center, which then relays the emergency to local responders. They usually come in the form of a pendant, which a senior living alone can place around his or her neck so that it is always within reach.

A new product is taking this safety tool to the next level, giving seniors even greater ability to quickly get help and communicate their emergency clearly. A pendant that simply alerts a service center of an emergency is useful, but the new two-way voice pendant from LifeSentry allows the user to speak to and hear the agent who receives the emergency call. With this system, the user is able to clearly state what the problem is so that the agent can more effectively dispatch help. A single button makes the pendant very easy to operate, so even a senior who is in pain or has limited mobility can make contact and talk as long as necessary to explain the situation.

That’s not the only advantage this Life Sentry pendant offers customers. Its wireless service area is much larger than those of competing products, so seniors can feel free to work in the garden or check the mail without losing signal. In addition, if the pendant loses the ability to contact the service center because of low battery life or a power outage, an automatic alert allows the center to dispatch help.

The most accident-prone area of the house, the bathroom, is often the area least conducive to using an electronic pendant. The pendant from LifeSentry, however, is water-resistant, meaning the user does not have to set it aside during bathing or showering. If the user does decide to remove it, however, the system includes optional wall-mounted devices that can provide the same communication services as the pendant. These devices are also water-resistant and can easily mount to the shower wall or within reach of the toilet.

More coverage area and a tougher exterior are just two of the advantages this pendant carries over its competitors. The real attraction of this system is its clear, two-way voice capability. When the victim can describe his or her need in detail, emergency responders can better prepare while en route and provide more effective help.

Fighting Fire with GPS Tech

July 21st, 2012

This is no house fire: nearly 22,000 acres of land were on fire near Newberry, Michigan this past month, charring homes and spewing smoke across the countryside. When a fire grows this large, aircraft are some of the best tools available to facilitate control. Now, GPS devices and satellites are helping to perform tasks once completed through specialized satellites. Monitoring forest fires requires extreme accuracy in order to maintain safety on an incredibly large scale. Thankfully, GPS technology is starting to make that task a little bit easier.

A Damaging Wildfire
A bolt of lightning sparked the flame that became this 20+ square mile blaze. The damage is still growing: nearly 30 homes have been destroyed, with over 200 damaged. In some cases, mandatory evacuations are in effect. In short, this massive wildfire is massively dangerous. How can mankind stand up to a fire of this scale?

Logistical Control Means Fire Control
In this wildfire’s case, the answer is over two hundred firefighters, including two air tankers and five helicopters, some from Michigan’s National Guard. The crew is working around the clock, attempting to contain the fire through pinpoint containment operations. Left ignored, the fire could cause massive damage to Michigan’s natural ecosystem, let alone the human cost.

GPS to the Rescue
For a relatively small crew to fight a large wildfire, the key is to use the team effectively. Water and firefighting minerals/chemicals must be dropped in exactly the right areas. GPS satellite technology has proven absolutely essential in allowing this 200+ member team to identify where its limited resources are best used. GPS and infrared have aided firefighting teams in understanding the blaze, how wind affects its path, and where the path of destruction is headed next.
“Swiss Army Satellites”
One of the most fascinating innovations here is the use of GPS, and the emergence of “Swiss Army Tech.” The advent of smart phones has signaled a new level of technological ubiquity. A large portion of Americans (not to mention world citizens) now carry GPS devices of varying effectiveness in their pockets. These devices perform similar tasks, and access the same satellites, in some cases, as the GPS devices used by the firefighting teams above. It is fascinating to see technology becoming homogenized: the same satellites used for “the little things,” i.e. navigating to Little Caesar’s, are used for “the big things,” like fighting the Michigan wildfire described above.

GPS System Helps Fire Fighters Save Lives

July 8th, 2012

There is a common saying: “Don’t play with fire.” The fire department in Edmonton, Canada, takes that saying very seriously. They’re trying to use a new GPS technology in order to cut down their response time every time there’s an emergency.

Using GPS to Cut Down Response Time

The system that the fire department in Edmonton is trying to implement is already in use in other cities in Canada. It’s simple: equip fire trucks with a GPS system that turns red lights into green lights in key intersections. We have all experienced that jolt whenever you hear a fire truck air horn. When you hear the horn blow, you better move a let the truck pass. Time is of the essence, and every time a fire truck comes to a red light it has to slow down to avoid an accident. Well, with this GPS system, that wouldn’t happen anymore.

How it Works

Anytime a fire truck has its sirens on and it comes within 500 meters of an intersection equipped with this system, the red light turns green. The system even has the capability of turning on the left turn signal when needed. Those minutes saved at every intersection can mean the difference of life and death for an individual. Fire spreads very quickly.

Safety First

This GPS system is meant to help increase the safety of drivers. Every intersection has the potential for disaster. Getting into a crash in an emergency can easily turn an emergency into a nightmare. The ability to switch to a green light when needed, creates a win-win for both the fire department, and also for those driving at the intersection.