I posted this yesterday on advrider.com.
I'll be spending a lot more time with my FJ62 than my dirt bike for a few months maybe forever, if my wife gets her way.
The original post
My experience using my SPOT Messenger's 911 emergency button - ADVrider
A couple of days ago I broke my leg in a crash on single track in a remote area. Many people have asked if and how the SPOT Messenger I used to call for help worked.
I've Posted about the ride in this forum post:
Nice Day for a Helicopter Ride - ADVrider
So here is my review of the SPOT Messenger in an emergency.
3:00 pm
I wrecked. I knew instantly my leg was broken.
3:10 pm
Two of the three people I was with left to get a truck.
At the time the plan was then I would ride out in the truck.
5:18 pm
After trying to move and feeling how severe the fractures were
I pushed the 911 button on my SPOT messenger. It was dark by
then, windy and getting cold. It became obvious that I would be
putting myself in more danger if I rode an hour or more on
very rough terrain in a truck.
5:22 pm
My wife received a call from the GEOS rescue service at home.
The GEOS service wanted to confirm that the call was not a
false alarm.
5:30 pm
The sheriff's dept called my wife to verify that I was missing.
The person who called did not seem to understand what GPS
coordinates were. They wanted to know the general area I was
riding in. They were given my exact location by GEOS but did not
know how to use the information. My wife tried to give the local Sheriff
operator the GPS coordinates but were unfamiliar with them and kept
saying it only provided a general location.
5:40 pm
My wife called the GEOS center. She was frustrated that the local
sheriff dept did not understand how to find me. The person from
GEOS advised they had already contacted an emergency response
center in Sacramento after the frustrating conversation with the local Sheriff operator.
5:40-6:40 pm
Calls came in from more informed local authorities and from
the emergency response center in Sacramento. The sheriff dept
at this time was planning on trying to find me on the ground.
6:20 pm
One of the many attempts by the friend who stayed with me
to go up to the ridge above us to use his cell phone worked.
He got a hold of his wife who called mine to let her know what
the situation was.
6:30 pm
The two friends who went to get the truck got back to us.
6:42 pm
My wife got a hold of the sheriff and told him my condition.
She also got a hold of the GEOS center and told them my
condition. The sheriff dept got through my friend's
cell phone who was now with me and told them they were sending
out a helicopter.
7:20 pm
The sheriffs helicopter arrived and landed as close as possible.
They flew me to an ambulance where I was treated until another
helicopter arrived - a medical evacuation helicopter with room
for a stretcher.
9 ish pm
I arrived at a hospital in Palm Springs were I was drugged
and ignored, but was happy to be indoors and warm.
Anyways I'm at home now with a cast and very satisfied with the SPOT messengers performance. I don't know exactly who did what or how it got done but it all worked out well enough. It's important to also have an informed contact person listed for SPOT and GEOS to relay information.
The one unanswered question I have is if the insurance I bought for search and rescue when I activated the SPOT will pay for any of the helicopter costs. I'll post about it when I know.
I'll be spending a lot more time with my FJ62 than my dirt bike for a few months maybe forever, if my wife gets her way.
The original post
My experience using my SPOT Messenger's 911 emergency button - ADVrider
A couple of days ago I broke my leg in a crash on single track in a remote area. Many people have asked if and how the SPOT Messenger I used to call for help worked.
I've Posted about the ride in this forum post:
Nice Day for a Helicopter Ride - ADVrider
So here is my review of the SPOT Messenger in an emergency.
3:00 pm
I wrecked. I knew instantly my leg was broken.
3:10 pm
Two of the three people I was with left to get a truck.
At the time the plan was then I would ride out in the truck.
5:18 pm
After trying to move and feeling how severe the fractures were
I pushed the 911 button on my SPOT messenger. It was dark by
then, windy and getting cold. It became obvious that I would be
putting myself in more danger if I rode an hour or more on
very rough terrain in a truck.
5:22 pm
My wife received a call from the GEOS rescue service at home.
The GEOS service wanted to confirm that the call was not a
false alarm.
5:30 pm
The sheriff's dept called my wife to verify that I was missing.
The person who called did not seem to understand what GPS
coordinates were. They wanted to know the general area I was
riding in. They were given my exact location by GEOS but did not
know how to use the information. My wife tried to give the local Sheriff
operator the GPS coordinates but were unfamiliar with them and kept
saying it only provided a general location.
5:40 pm
My wife called the GEOS center. She was frustrated that the local
sheriff dept did not understand how to find me. The person from
GEOS advised they had already contacted an emergency response
center in Sacramento after the frustrating conversation with the local Sheriff operator.
5:40-6:40 pm
Calls came in from more informed local authorities and from
the emergency response center in Sacramento. The sheriff dept
at this time was planning on trying to find me on the ground.
6:20 pm
One of the many attempts by the friend who stayed with me
to go up to the ridge above us to use his cell phone worked.
He got a hold of his wife who called mine to let her know what
the situation was.
6:30 pm
The two friends who went to get the truck got back to us.
6:42 pm
My wife got a hold of the sheriff and told him my condition.
She also got a hold of the GEOS center and told them my
condition. The sheriff dept got through my friend's
cell phone who was now with me and told them they were sending
out a helicopter.
7:20 pm
The sheriffs helicopter arrived and landed as close as possible.
They flew me to an ambulance where I was treated until another
helicopter arrived - a medical evacuation helicopter with room
for a stretcher.
9 ish pm
I arrived at a hospital in Palm Springs were I was drugged
and ignored, but was happy to be indoors and warm.
Anyways I'm at home now with a cast and very satisfied with the SPOT messengers performance. I don't know exactly who did what or how it got done but it all worked out well enough. It's important to also have an informed contact person listed for SPOT and GEOS to relay information.
The one unanswered question I have is if the insurance I bought for search and rescue when I activated the SPOT will pay for any of the helicopter costs. I'll post about it when I know.
