Garmin Releases Annual inReach SOS Incident Report for 2023

Garmin is known for many things within the outdoor community. They have phenomenal timepieces that can guide us to our destinations as well as keep time. Garmin has also recently debuted one of the best chronographs on the market today. For those of us who like to truly venture out into the great unknown, Garmin also produces handheld GPS devices to send out a distress signal and/or guide us back to civilization. Most recently, Garmin has released their annual inReach SOS Incident Report from the previous calendar year and there are a lot of lessons to be learned from this information.

Click HERE to read the entire 2023 report

Garmin Coverage on AllOutdoor

So, what information can we – or should we – glean from this valuable report that Garmin is sharing with us? For one, we can identify the areas in which people found themselves in distress the most, the types of injuries, situations, and possible measures people could have (or most certainly should have) taken to prevent their predicament. All that being said, let’s take a gander at some of the information that Garmin was so generously willing to share:

SOS-triggered responses varied from local emergency services on major interstate highways to highly technical helicopter rescues. They came from locations on six continents, including nearly 100 countries, and in three oceans.
Individuals activated an SOS the most during hiking/backpacking activities, followed by driving and motorcycle incidents.
Driving-related SOS incidents rose, emphasizing the importance of having an inReach on hand for situations when cell phone coverage is lacking. This is another benefit over relying solely on cell and basic 911 capabilities.
Many SOS incidents were for the actual inReach user; however, over one-half were for a user’s party member or a third-party individual.
With their inReach devices, as supported by the professionally trained Garmin Response staff, inReach users were able to self-rescue nearly 10% of the time.

Olathe, Kansas – February 29th, 2024 – Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today released its 2023 inReach® SOS Report, highlighting trends involving SOS incidents reported to Garmin Response℠ during the past calendar year. As a global leader in two-way satellite communication, Garmin inReach technology is available on a wide variety of devices and can help individuals stay in touch globally with two-way text messaging, location tracking and critical SOS emergency response services.

How Garmin inReach SOS Works with Garmin Response

If you found yourself here at AllOutdoor, you love the outdoors. Moreover, you like adventure. With that can come the dangers of injury and/or getting lost in unfamiliar places. That is where the Garmin inReach SOS system truly shines. When your cellphone has no reception and is failing you, the Garmin inReach SOS system can connect you with emergency services so you can get the help that you need.

Thanks to a dedicated SOS button and 100% global Iridium® satellite network coverage, Garmin inReach users can quickly send an SOS message should an emergency occur. Once an SOS message is sent, even if the user takes no other action, the device sends a distress message to Garmin Response, a 24/7 staffed professional emergency response coordination center. Garmin Response will communicate with the individual user, their listed emergency contacts, search and rescue organizations and other available local resources. They provide updates to users and emergency contacts on the response effort, including confirmation when help is on the way, and remain available as the incident is being resolved.

If all of this is making a lot of sense to you – and it should – and you’re thinking to yourself, “I’d like to get a handheld device that can deliver all of this to me,” then your next step is choosing a Garmin product. All of these are examples of Garmin products where you can get these types of emergency services that have been outlined above:

The inReach Messenger is an easy-interface device that provides a simple, communications-focused inReach experience, handy for anyone who might find themselves without cell service.
When the size and weight of the gear matters most, the easy-to-carry inReach Mini 2 is a great option with its lightweight and compact design.
Dedicated explorers, mountaineers, and hunters may prefer the rugged GPSMAP® 67i GPS handheld and satellite communicator, which offers TopoActive mapping and inReach technology for backcountry activities.
Road warriors may prefer the Montana® 700 Series, which includes a full-touchscreen display, allowing users to quickly and easily type messages, plus a variety of mounting options for ATVs, motorcycles, bikes and more.
For overlanding enthusiasts, the Tread® XL Series is built for every part of the journey and has the mapping they need to stay on track and communication technology to stay in touch.
On the water, Garmin offers the inReach Mini 2 Marine Bundle, which includes a powered mount for the boat’s helm for easy access when needed. Mariners also utilize the GPSMAP 86sci, which comes with preloaded BlueChart®g3 coastal charts in a water-resistant, floating design.
Aviators can send and receive messages conveniently through their Garmin Pilot™ smart device app right from the cockpit. Garmin Pilot leverages the inReach Mini 2’s GPS positioning to drive a georeferenced aircraft position symbol on a tablet’s moving map display.

After reading through this report, this may be my tipping point to purchase a handheld GPS device from Garmin with the inReach SOS for myself. Whether you are navigating an unfamiliar canyon in Colorado or simply going for a hike with your dog in a new park, you never know when something like a simple GPS could save your life by getting the correct emergency services headed your way. As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

Adam Scepaniak