I have read both threads on this. You all have awesome ideas, I have basically used what other people have come up with and changed/customized them a bit to fit what I wanted to convey to my contact list
Check in/OK: "I'm OK, everything is fine"
Custom Message: "I'm OK, delayed getting off the mountain. If situation changes, will send help message. Garmin Ch 21-12"
Help: "Non life threatening need help, notify friends or local officials that i am stuck on the mntn. Garmin Ch 21-12"
SOS: "If I activate this beacon it is most likely because of a high mountain snowmobiling issue/accident/avalanche that requires SAR and immediate assistance. This SOS is either for myself or one of my riding partners. I am a 47 year old male in good overall health and have basic survival skills. I have a first aid kit and survival gear to spend the night in woods if needed. My Garmin radio channel is 21-12."
I also took the email that Brian posted and edited it for my use. I sent it to all the people on my contact list and have called them to discuss any questions they had.
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PLEASE SAVE THIS EMAIL. PLEASE ALSO COPY THE TEXT TO THE NOTES IN YOUR CELL PHONE.
I just bought a new "SPOT II Messenger" device for Snowmobiling. It tracks my location via satellite, and allows me to send a message or call for help by pushing a button on the unit.
Please bookmark these Map URLs
24 hour trip log: SPOT Share page URL
7 day trip log: SPOT Share page URL
How it works:
You can use these maps to see where we are at, they will update every 10 mins. If something ever does go wrong, turn this map over to SAR (search and rescue) by giving them the URL so they can see it as well.
What the notifications mean:
Check-In/OK: This will send you a text/email to let you know everything is okay. This Check-In/OK text message will go to Tonya.
Custom Message: This will send you a text/email letting you know we are delayed getting off the mountain and back into cell phone range. We either stayed longer than anticipated, ran out of gas or broke down and are towing a sled out..but we are OK. This Custom message will go to Tonya.
Help: This will send you an text/email. It is an indication that we are asking you to send assistance, but there's no need to call search and rescue. If you get this notice, please locate our position on the map and decide the best way to respond....either organize a group to come get us or notify local sheriff's office of our situation. We may be miles into the back country and out of gas, broke down and just need to be picked up or have a non-life threatening injury and need assistance. We will always head towards the nearest Forest Service road and make our way to the nearest main road. We will send add'l help messages along the way so you can track our progress. This message will be sent via text to Tonya, Brad, Jen, Cody and Mike. Email sent to the same people.
SOS: This will send you an text/email, as well as notify SAR (Search and Rescue) that there's a life-threatening emergency & to send help immediately. If you are listed below as an emergency contact, SAR will likely be contacting you for additional information on our trip, location, people we're with, and gear we might be carrying. Please take this alert seriously. If you don't hear from SAR within 20 to 30 minutes of getting this alert, please call 911 yourself. Our GPS location can be viewed on the map, and the latitude / longitude in the notification should also be provided. SOS alerts will be sent to SAR as well as Tonya & Brad via email and via text message.
Communications: In the event of an emergency, please notify SAR, or whoever is coming, that we monitor channel 21-12 on the Garmin FRS/GMRS radios.
Tonya also knows that if I send a "OK" message immediately after a "Help" or "SOS" message that I am fine and the "Help" or "SOS" is for someone in our group and not me. That will allow her to feel more at ease in a tense situation.