The Who, What, Where and When of PLBs

By Paul Hardin
Vice President, Sales & Marketing

We at ACR have held to the belief that 406 MHz beacons are for use by extreme sports enthusiasts and professionals working in remote locations. The events of the past year have caused us to challenge this viewpoint. We’re rethinking the answers to the frequent questions of; “Who should carry a PLB?” “What constitutes a life threatening situation?” “Where should you use a PLB?”  And, “When is it appropriate to activate a PLB?” The answers to these questions, especially the questions of Who and Where are changing.

Who should carry a PLB? There are the obvious groups of outdoor enthusiasts, world travelers and small-boat enthusiasts who find PLBs practical. However, over the past year families stranded in cars and RVs clearly could have benefited from having a PLB. Search and Rescue resources spent looking for them and the fatality that occurred were avoidable had they carried a PLB in their vehicle. The definition of who should consider carrying a PLB is broader than once thought.

A man with a disability stranded in a four-wheeler recently activated his PLB and saved much pain, heartache, effort and expense for himself, his family and SAR. Stuck in the snow, his disability preventing him from walking for help, he faced a night in sub-freezing temperatures. He activated his ACR TerraFix™ PLB and avoided the potentially life-threatening consequences of his predicament. A TerraFix™ PLB brought rescuers to a Texas farmer who experienced a heart attack while cutting wheat on his farm. Clearly, there are individuals with health concerns that should consider whether PLBs can help them continue to enjoy a rich lifestyle while being more prepared for an emergency. Tragedies that might have ended differently and the successful saves of the past year cause many to reconsider “Who” should carry a PLB.

What constitutes a “grave and imminent” life-threatening situation? Books could be written and still not fully define every situation where it is proper to activate a PLB. It boils down to a judgment call. Situations that call for the use of a PLB are when you have exhausted all other means of rescue and believe the loss of life, limb or eyesight will occur unless someone intervenes. The situation can involve the loss of significant property that could lead to the loss of life. The key is to remember that a PLB is a device of last resort.

Where is it appropriate to activate a PLB? Once thought suitable for use only in remote locations, PLBs are being used in more rural settings.  A PLB transmits two signals simultaneously. The first is a five-watt (typical) digital message on the 406 MHz frequency. This 406 MHz transmission is satellite locatable from any where on the planet. It alerts authorities to your plight and provides your location.  The 406 MHz signal may successfully transmit from a slot canyon or a shallow snow cave, but make every effort to place it in a location with a good view of the sky.  Many PLBs also have a GPS receiver and transmit your coordinates as part of the 406 MHz alert message. For the GPS inside the PLB to work, it must have a clear view of the sky. A 406 MHz PLB provides satellite alert and location any place there is a clear view of the sky.

The second signal produced by a PLB is the 121.5 MHz local homing signal. This low power homer can lead SAR teams equipped with radio Direction Finding (DF) equipment directly to your location. Buildings and other structures can frustrate the homing signal. Therefore, a PLB is not a good solution for emergencies in cities. There are many rural areas, not generally considered remote, where a PLB might be an excellent solution once all other means of getting help have fallen short. 

When do you activate your PLB? No person has been charged with a fine resulting from a PLB activation where the victim believed they were in a grave and imminently threatening situation.  If you have exhausted every possible means of self-rescue and your situation will not improve without outside intervention, then a PLB can and should be activated.

It is a crime to falsely activate your beacon.  You may be subject to fines and other penalties for a false activation.  In the event of an accidental or false activation inform the Primary and Alternate 24-hour Emergency Contacts listed on your registration form so that when contacted they can let the authorities know no emergency exists.  Make sure you are reachable at the first telephone number listed for the owner of the beacon. This is another good reason to keep your beacon’s registration information current at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov.

A PLB is no substitute for being prepared. You and you alone are responsible for your well-being.  Further, you must be prepared to survive long enough for rescuers to arrive. This can take hours or more.  In some remote locations or extreme weather situations organizing a rescue may take days. You must be prepared to survive! 

A PLB does not reduce risk, but a properly registered PLB can improve your chances of surviving an emergency whether in remote or rural areas of the planet. More people are finding it makes sense to carry a PLB as a part of their emergency preparedness plan.  Maybe you should too.  Send us an e-mail at info@acrelectronics.com if you have questions about PLBs.  We’ll be glad to help if we can.