Some little time ago In had a medical emergency that occurred in a

van parked a little way from me in a camp in SA.

The gent came out very concerned and asking for a doctor or medical aid.

He thought that his wife was having a heart attack. It was about 2am.

There was about 5-6 vans/RV's spread around but being the closest

I reacted fastest and dialled 000. A few questions that I thought were time wasting

but eventually the operator asked me where I was, and the name of the road and

the nearest cross street.

Here's the problem - I knew neither, and the nearest cross would have been

maybe 50k away.

When it came to the crunch, neither myself or another bystander could give

anything like accurate instructions. It took precious time and lots of panic

conversation to firstly convince the operator that I wasn't a hoaxer, and

secondly to give enough info for despatch of help to assist help to find us.

I got quite angry that the operator couldn't see my location from my phone -

something that I thought was automatic - but however not the case.

Fortunately the lady got over it with her medication and some panic

calls to her specialist (wonder what a 2am consultation costs) and

a huge dose of one of her medications.

Very frightening, and although I don't have any answers as to what I

could do in the future, I wonder what suggestions might be forthcoming

from others.

Maybe an EPIRB?

I have this app on my phone. 

Otherwise use a PLB

Always remember RFDS is available if you have phone service. I have used them when we needed medical attention in Sandstone

My wife was airlifted back to Perth

I agree that emergency call centres need to get their act together in this regard however, to their credit, Victoria seems to have done so: I had to call 000 earlier this year in regard to a bush fire and after the operator discovered I had no idea what the "nearest crossing street" was she asked if I could give her a lat/long which I did (in decimal degrees) and the big red truck turned up about 20 minutes later.

I suspect the major issue is that most people have no idea of mapping coordinates or how to obtain and interpret them.

There is another AP you can get for your phone it is called My GPS Location and its free. I have used this to alert authorities to a location. Plus it is useful when adding a site to Wikicamps or for your own personal use. In an Emergency If you can call 000 then simply give them the lats and longs.

All iPhones should have a "Compass" app either on the desktop or in "Extras" that shows your latitude and longitude coordinates, your altitude and a compass. You can give these coordinates to the emergency operator.

A word of warning about built-in car navigators and their latitude and longitude coordinates. The last time we had a breakdown on the Hume Highway we gave the NRMA operator the coordinates from our Nissan Patrol navigation system. Trouble was the coordinates were from the last place we stopped (Wagga), NOT our current location (somewhere south of Gundagai on the Hume Highway). The NRMA had to call us back and get our correct current location.

We have a Garmin Navigator which we do not use regularly now because our current vehicle has its own installed GPS system. My recollection of the Garmin was that, there was a display that has the coordinates of where that Garmin is located. I have not gone through everything in my vehicle's system, perhaps it has a similar display somewhere. Maybe check your navigation devices for a display option of the location coordinates.

Is there is a Standard gps datum that vehicle gps systems use? WSG88 datum is commonly used for marine navigation units.

TravellerBob wrote:

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If you download the Emergency plus app and use it to call when you have an emergeny the authorities will get your location from the app. Obviously your need to have phone coverage for it to work
other wise a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a must but remember , once you have activated the PLB it can take a few hours for assistance to arrive depending on where you are of coarse.
Im currently prospecting around outback WA solo and always have my PLB within reach when out of phone range

---

 Looking at all the posts and googling them to see whats entailed: for simpletons like me (thanks Wanda) seems the Emergency plus would be the easy solution for areas where phone coverage is ok.

I will Keep on watching for alternatives, but the EP app seems to cover just about everywhere I go especially now with the outside antenna and the CelFi booster.

PLB seems a bit complicated for a true urgency given you cant talk to the receiver.

Thanks all for comments.

-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Tuesday 31st of August 2021 02:55:25 PM

-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Tuesday 31st of August 2021 02:58:29 PM

Brodie Allen wrote:

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PLB seems a bit complicated for a true urgency given you cant talk to the receiver.

 

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The PLB is the simplest to operate. Put up the antennae and press the button.

Mobiles can not give a position unless they have signals from 3 or more towers (and then the position is very approximate) or unless they have a GPS built in. Many do not.

The PLB works via satelite. That means virtually anywhere, no phone reception is required, including overseas. I have never heard of a PLB failing to do its job. Position accuracy is within meters.

Cheers,

Peter

What 3 Words has given every 3 metre square in the world a 3 word name. I believe the emergency services are using this as another tool. The data set for Australia is about 6MB

https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app/

Derek Barnes wrote:

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All iPhones should have a "Compass" app either on the desktop or in "Extras" that shows your latitude and longitude coordinates, your altitude and a compass. You can give these coordinates to the emergency operator.

A word of warning about built-in car navigators and their latitude and longitude coordinates. The last time we had a breakdown on the Hume Highway we gave the NRMA operator the coordinates from our Nissan Patrol navigation system. Trouble was the coordinates were from the last place we stopped (Wagga), NOT our current location (somewhere south of Gundagai on the Hume Highway). The NRMA had to call us back and get our correct current location.

---

 Beauty, Derek!!!

Found it in the Compass app. on iPhone.

NO COMPASS ON IPAD?????

I wonder though would 000 or others know how to use all those numbers?

-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Tuesday 31st of August 2021 03:57:54 PM

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

---

Brodie Allen wrote:

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PLB seems a bit complicated for a true urgency given you cant talk to the receiver.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The PLB is the simplest to operate. Put up the antennae and press the button.

Mobiles can not give a position unless they have signals from 3 or more towers (and then the position is very approximate) or unless they have a GPS built in. Many do not.

The PLB works via satelite. That means virtually anywhere, no phone reception is required, including overseas. I have never heard of a PLB failing to do its job. Position accuracy is within meters.

Cheers,

Peter

---

 thanks, Peter, but the time lag from pressing the button to them contacting you or emergency people.

with a heart attack or serious wounding time is critical.

Don't fully understand the jigger's application, though. Methinks it's location rather than emergency?

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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The only better option would be a sat. phone and then you need to know exactly where you are.

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And if you don't... you should not be there.

Mike Harding wrote:

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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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The only better option would be a sat. phone and then you need to know exactly where you are.

---

And if you don't... you should not be there.

---

 I have been many places where you do not know within 100k of where you are.

Even across the Nulabor you could not accurately describe where you are in many stretches

without GPS or similar.

TravellerBob wrote:

---

If you download the Emergency plus app and use it to call when you have an emergeny the authorities will get your location from the app. Obviously your need to have phone coverage for it to work
other wise a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a must but remember , once you have activated the PLB it can take a few hours for assistance to arrive depending on where you are of coarse.
Im currently prospecting around outback WA solo and always have my PLB within reach when out of phone range

---

 This is what I have. It is easy to use and gives the info you need to tell them where you are.

I am not sure that phone coverage is needed . It would be a good test to see if one could get the App to show Long & Lat  when out of range.

I look at my app when in a black spot in Adelaide hills and I get the GPS coordinates. Possibly uses GPS  sats.   well out of range would be a good test.

A Google check tells me it needs phone coverage !!

Brodie Allen wrote:

---

Mike Harding wrote:

---

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

---

The only better option would be a sat. phone and then you need to know exactly where you are.

---

And if you don't... you should not be there.

---

 I have been many places where you do not know within 100k of where you are.

Even across the Nulabor you could not accurately describe where you are in many stretches

without GPS or similar.

---

A quick count reveals I own and have to hand at least eight GPS units either purpose built or incorporated into phones or tablets - I imagine most people have at least one unit in their phone.

My point was that if you are going remote you *should* prepare for that and kit yourself up to know your position; for most nowadays that means buying a GPS and learning how to use and understand it but it could also availing oneself of appropriate maps and a compass and ensuring you use those and your car's oddometer to maintain a check on your location. Failing that buy a watch and a sextant and learn some navigation. This is not rocket science, sailors have been doing it for a very long.

I am frequently surprised and disappointed by most people's complete ignorance when it comes to mapping and navigation, the basics are not complicated they simply require some study in order to understand them but if people "cannot be bothered" then so be it and they can deal with any consequences which may arise themselves.

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

---

Brodie Allen wrote:

---

PLB seems a bit complicated for a true urgency given you cant talk to the receiver.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The PLB is the simplest to operate. Put up the antennae and press the button.

Mobiles can not give a position unless they have signals from 3 or more towers (and then the position is very approximate) or unless they have a GPS built in. Many do not.

The PLB works via satelite. That means virtually anywhere, no phone reception is required, including overseas. I have never heard of a PLB failing to do its job. Position accuracy is within meters.

Cheers,

Peter

---

 Peter,

I have a family whom all have iPhones and we use the location services to find

one another - in the streets, in shopping centres, etc and the phones are accurate

to within meters! (Not so good in shopping centres indoors but 10-20 meters),

and for finding my drone again within meters.

When we are camping and off walking, I can watch my bride and when necessary can

find her again within meters.

I think that the phones are marvellous! (I have to turn mine off when I'm having

a tantrum and want to run away).

With the PLB I cant tell anyone what kind of service I require. Maybe they might

send a search party when I need an ambulance?

Thanks for your replies. This is a very important decision for us oldies!

B

It is not necessary for a mobile phone handset to be in a mobile phone signal coverage area in order for its GPS to operate and there are many apps. (eg. gpstest) which will put the GPS chipset into active mode and display a lat/long coordinate. Better yet, download one of the many off-line mapping programmes (eg Osmand) and see your location on an off-line map too.

Edit:

Clarification

Mike Harding wrote:

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It is not necessary for a mobile phone handset to be in a mobile phone signal coverage area in order for its GPS to operate and there are many apps. (eg. gpstest) which will put the GPS chipset into active mode and display a lat/long coordinate. Better yet, download one of the many off-line mapping programmes (eg Osmand) and see your location on an off-line map too.

 

---

 You still need to tell someone where you are to get assistance. You can not do that with a mobile without reception.

Cheers,

peter

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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 You still need to tell someone where you are to get assistance. You can not do that with a mobile without reception.

---

Not quite... which is why I have an Amateur Radio licence.

Mike Harding wrote:

---

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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 You still need to tell someone where you are to get assistance. You can not do that with a mobile without reception.

---

Not quite... which is why I have an Amateur Radio licence.

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 ...and why I always carry a satellite phone when travelling.