Mayday? Maybe Not

No responsible boater would send a distress signal without an actual emergency, yet it happens all the time. Last year, less than 2% of the 22,248 emergency beacon activations received by the U.S. Mission Control Center, which serves as the central data information hub for 406MHz distress beacon signals, were actual distress calls. The other 98% were either false alarms or undetermined.

Why so many mistaken maydays? Experts say false alerts are typically honest mistakes made by users improperly testing or handling their devices. But do you want personal ignorance or neglect to be the reason you’ve just launched a herculean rescue effort for no reason? Let’s explore the problem of false activations, their causes, and how you can minimize the risk of triggering one yourself.

The costs of false alerts

Real trouble or not, search and rescue (SAR) operations can be time-consuming and expensive. The Coast Guard treats all distress signals as genuine until proven otherwise, explains Stacy Teixeira, communications officer for the Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) department. This means false alarms could divert critical resources from real emergencies. Additionally, there’s the “inherent danger that rescuers are put in.” Flying over the ocean in a helicopter involves risk, even if the distress call turns out to be false.

Moreover, flying out over the ocean isn’t cheap. Responses may involve deploying expensive resources, like HC-130 Hercules airplanes and MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters. While the Coast Guard did not comment on how much it spends hourly on aircraft or annually on false alarms, a government rate sheet indicates that both aircraft cost upward of $15,000 per hour to operate. So what can you do to avoid causing a costly false activation?

Know your beacon

Accidental activations can occur during testing, so read the manual beforehand and become familiar with the general handling instructions.

“From my experience, inexperience or a lack of reading the owner’s manual are the two reasons you see false alerts,” says Mikele D’Arcangelo, who heads marketing, product management, and customer service for emergency beacon manufacturer ACR Electronics. “People will simply press the wrong button.”

This is one reason behind ACR’s mobile beacon app to better help customers have immediate access to the manual, he adds, as well as videos on testing procedures, and a better understanding of the test results. ACR’s new ResQLink AIS PLB is the first to feature Near Field Communication, which transfers the beacon’s information to a cellphone and confirms the test results and testing location (GNSS Test).

“We recommend a self-test once a month,” says D’Arcangelo. (See “On Location” on page 72 to learn more about EPIRB and PLB inspections and maintenance.) It’s also important to ensure everyone on board knows how to operate the beacon and understands the potential for setting off a false alarm.

“They might play around with it and accidentally press the wrong button,” he says. “Most important, make sure your beacon is registered. If a false activation does happen, then it can quickly be handled with a simple phone call.”

If you feel uncomfortable using your beacon or have questions about its functionality, Teixeira encourages boaters to reach out to their local Coast Guard stations. “No question is a dumb question,” she assures recreational boaters. Most false alerts are from recreational users, which includes boaters, hikers, and hunters, presumably because commercial boaters are more familiar with the products, and their job requires they test and check their beacons regularly.

Register your beacon

“The biggest thing is beacon registration,” says Teixeira. After purchasing a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), it’s crucial to register it. This is a free process that can be done online or by mail. More importantly, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires all EPIRB and PLB owners to register their beacons with NOAA and keep the registration information up to date. If an unregistered beacon activates, FCC can prosecute the owner and issue fines up to $10,000.

Registration provides the Coast Guard with essential information, such as a cellphone number. Speaking with the beacon’s owner allows responders to tailor their rescue strategies and deploy the proper resources.

“Maybe there are multiple people on board or maybe there’s a medical situation that’s important for responders to know about,” says Teixeira.

Registration also gives the Coast Guard a means of contacting you in the event of a false activation, potentially avoiding an unnecessary, expensive, or dangerous rescue mission.

“If it’s a false alert, we can stand down that helicopter so that they’re not going out over the ocean looking for a distressed case that doesn’t exist,” says Teixeira.

Unlike a typical extended warranty on a consumer product, registering a beacon isn’t optional; it’s required by federal law. And registration is not the only responsibility assumed by beacon owners, who are also required to notify the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) if the beacon’s ownership changes. Failing to do either could result in penalties or fines issued by the FCC.

Beacon registration must be updated every two years. NOAA sends reminder emails or letters beginning two months before the renewal date. Visit the NOAA website at beaconregistration.noaa.gov to register or update your information.

Proper wear for PLBs

According to ACR’s D’Arcangelo, the most common misuse of PLBs involves tossing them in a backpack, which can result in the device being crushed or something getting under the safety cover and activating the beacon.

“Ideally we want everyone installing these inside their life jacket,” he says.

Other options include attaching PLBs to shoulder straps or belts, or placed in secure pockets.

Mindful installation of EPIRBs

Mounting brackets contain a magnet that activates the EPIRB’s water sensor.

“When the EPIRB is out of the bracket and gets wet, it will automatically turn on,” says D’Arcangelo. “When it’s in the bracket, you can hose the beacon down and it won’t activate.”

Ensure your EPIRB is properly seated in the bracket; you should hear a distinct click. This minimizes the chance of it dislodging, getting wet, and activating. If you plan to store your EPIRB in a ditch bag, D’Arcangelo suggests keeping it inside its bracket to prevent a false alert if the bag gets wet.

False alarm: What to do

If you accidentally activate your EPIRB or PLB, don’t panic. Immediately report the false alarm by calling the U.S. Coast Guard (855-406-8724) if the beacon is an EPIRB, and the U.S. Air Force (800-851-3051) if the beacon is a PLB or Emergency Locator Transmitter (for aircraft). This will connect you with the correct SAR operators, who will be relieved to hear it was a mistake.