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personal locator beacons
Nov. 2nd, 2009 11:24 amhttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2010171491_trhikingemergency01.html?cmpid=2628
This article discusses one of the side-effects of having working and affordable beacons on the market. I linked to one of these beacons a couple of weeks ago, and Saska pointed out that she'd actually gotten on for her father, who likes to spend time alone in the wilderness. Basically, the beacons allow for easy call for help, and they are occasionally misused by someone who wants comfort, but isn't in an emergency situation.
Honestly, the article sort of annoys me. The problems isn't the beacons. The beacons are a tool, and, i think, really can serve a valuable function. I like the one i linked to that had an 'i'm okay' function - mostly because i have spent a few evenings wondering when my friends are late enough in returning to merit a phone call to the ranger service. Also because when Josh or i are traveling, we use text messaging for that purpose just checking in, and its a really nice thing to be able to do. I can see valuable uses for these things in both emergent and non-emergent situations. (An 'i'm okay' call might actually prevent an un-necessary rescue.)
Like most tools, though, they can be abused, and it sounds like they are. But i don't think its fair to blame the tool for people being idiots. I don't really know how to solve the problem - idiots have been going into the woods for a long time. Their chances of survival have increased (along with those of the non-idiots), but they are still idiots. Short of somehow eliminating idiots, i'm not sure we can eliminate the kind of problems that this article is citing.
Don't be idiots, folks. I like you all too much.
This article discusses one of the side-effects of having working and affordable beacons on the market. I linked to one of these beacons a couple of weeks ago, and Saska pointed out that she'd actually gotten on for her father, who likes to spend time alone in the wilderness. Basically, the beacons allow for easy call for help, and they are occasionally misused by someone who wants comfort, but isn't in an emergency situation.
Honestly, the article sort of annoys me. The problems isn't the beacons. The beacons are a tool, and, i think, really can serve a valuable function. I like the one i linked to that had an 'i'm okay' function - mostly because i have spent a few evenings wondering when my friends are late enough in returning to merit a phone call to the ranger service. Also because when Josh or i are traveling, we use text messaging for that purpose just checking in, and its a really nice thing to be able to do. I can see valuable uses for these things in both emergent and non-emergent situations. (An 'i'm okay' call might actually prevent an un-necessary rescue.)
Like most tools, though, they can be abused, and it sounds like they are. But i don't think its fair to blame the tool for people being idiots. I don't really know how to solve the problem - idiots have been going into the woods for a long time. Their chances of survival have increased (along with those of the non-idiots), but they are still idiots. Short of somehow eliminating idiots, i'm not sure we can eliminate the kind of problems that this article is citing.
Don't be idiots, folks. I like you all too much.
