General Outdoor Recreation

Garmin InReach Aids in 5,000th Rescue Thanks to Two-Way Communication and SOS Functionality

17 September, 2020

No matter where the adventure leads – on land, at sea or in air – inReach provides peace of mind that help is only a push of a button away

OLATHE, Kan./September 17, 2020/Business Wire — Garmin® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), supported the milestone of 5,000 SOS rescues with an inReach®  device. As the world’s leading satellite communicator manufacturer1, Garmin offers a wide variety of handheld devices with GPS navigation allowing for two-way text messaging from anywhere in the world, location tracking, and critical SOS functions for those exploring on land, water or in the skies1. From extreme athletes to family campers, pilots to scuba divers, Garmin inReach users participate in a wide range of activities and adventures.

“It’s an honour to be able to serve our customers with this kind of life-saving service,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “Having an inReach means feeling a sense of security and safety that if anything unexpected happens while you’re on or off the grid, you’re still connected to emergency responders, friends and family.”  

In case of emergency, inReach users can trigger an interactive SOS which sends a message to the GEOS 24/7 International Emergency Response Coordination Centre (IERCC). The trained staff will respond to messages, track the device location and notify emergency responders in the area. IERCC will stay in touch with the user and the user’s emergency contacts until the situation is resolved.

“Two-way communication is so important in an emergency situation,” said Chip Noble, Garmin senior product manager. “After enabling an SOS, GEOS will ask questions to learn more about the incident and what appropriate first responders are needed for rescue, whether a tow-truck or helicopter.”

For Mikaelyn Law and her whitewater rafting group traveling through a Class 4 rapid – messaging back and forth with IERCC was pivotal when a party member fell into the water after their boat got stuck on a boulder. After getting the individual to safety and assessing the severity of sustained injuries, they decided to initiate an SOS for help.  

“We were communicating with GEOS the whole time, updating them about her condition and making plans for the helicopter,” Law said. “If we hadn’t had the inReach, though, it would have been very hard to coordinate a rescue. We would have had to travel to the takeout point that was really far downstream, it would have been dark, and we would have had to try to make an emergency phone call. The whole scenario would not have played out so smoothly.”

Garmin offers a selection of handhelds that vary in weight, display size and features, all with two-way communication and SOS capabilities.

Learn more about all of Garmin’s inReach-capable devices here. An active satellite subscription is required to access the Iridium satellite network for live tracking, messaging and interactive SOS capabilities. A variety of affordable annual contract or month-to-month airtime packages are available.

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionised life for adventurers, athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. Committed to developing products that enhance experiences and enrich lives, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday. For more information follow us at facebook.com/garmin.uk, twitter.com/garminuk, instagram.com/garminuk or youtube.com/garmin.

1Based on number of subscribers

2Active satellite subscription required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communication devices. It is your responsibility to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the satellite communication device is intended to be used.

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About Garmin International, Inc.

Garmin International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin, Montana and inReach are registered trademarks, and Garmin Explore and MapShare, are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is under license. Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations.  The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983).  A copy of such Form 10-K is available at https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/investors/.  No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.