COVINGTON, La., Aug. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Mount Hood Boy Scout Leader, an Arkansas photographer and a Norwegian back country skier are just three of more than 2,000 outdoor adventurers who were brought to safety by dedicated Search and Rescue Teams and the SPOT devices that helped find them when they encountered life threatening situations.
"I will definitely be bringing SPOT with me on future trips," said Gordon Vaughan, who used SPOT to send for help when his hiking buddy collapsed from heat exhaustion in the Grand Canyon. "There is no doubt in my mind that SPOT saved my friend's life."
"SPOT devices take the search out of search and rescue," said Russell Gubele, President and Command Officer of Mountain Wave Search and Rescue near Mount Hood, Oregon. "SPOT sends location coordinates which allows us to conduct our rescue efforts extremely efficiently. As a result, more people are rescued from often life-threatening situations - saving lives, time and money."
Since 2007, the family of SPOT messenger devices has initiated more than 2,000 emergency rescues in 78 countries around the world and at sea. Hikers, boaters, pilots, and remote workers are just a few examples of SPOT users who have signaled for assistance.
In life-threatening emergencies, SPOT users can send SOS messages with their GPS location to the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC). After an SOS message is received, IERCC quickly verifies the incident and notifies the appropriate local authorities.
Rocky Henderson of Portland Mountain Rescue said, "SPOT not only makes things easier for us, it helps prevent unnecessary search and rescue missions from happening. Being able to let friends and family know that you are okay is a big deal."
A few SPOT Rescue Highlights (2007-2012):
- A Boy Scout troop leader was seriously injured by a falling horse in Mount Hood National Forest and airlifted to safety by the National Guard.
- A backcountry skier in Norway was located and rescued after being trapped at high elevation during a severe winter storm.
- An Arkansas photographer was rescued from a steep ravine after falling 30 feet in the Ozark National Forest.
The SPOT family of products includes the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger™ and SPOT Connect™. Both products provide the user with the ability to send custom messages by email or sms text, and can even set their messages to update facebook and twitter. SPOT Messenger retails for $99.99, plus service plan. SPOT Connect, which pairs with your smartphone, retails for $149.99, plus service plan. SPOT and SPOT Connect are available at Cabela's, REI, Bass Pro Shops, West Marine, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods and other leading outdoor retailers. For more information, visit FindMeSPOT.com
About SPOT LLC
SPOT LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. (Nasdaq:GSAT), provides satellite messaging technology that allows users to communicate from remote locations around the globe. The SPOT product family uses Globalstar's GPS satellite network to determine a customer's location and to transmit messages and GPS coordinates to others, including emergency notifications to an international rescue coordination center. Thanks to these affordable, rugged, pocket-sized personal safety devices, SPOT products provide peace of mind by allowing customers to notify friends and family of their location and status, and to send for emergency assistance in time of need, completely independent of cellular phone coverage or radio frequency range. To date, SPOT devices have initiated more than 2,000 rescues around the world. For more information on how SPOT is helping others stay connected – from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure – visit www.FindMeSPOT.com.
The SPOT Adventures Logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6660
Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of SPOT LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.