Responsible Use; False Alarms - ACR Electronics TerraFix 406 Product Support Manual

SECTION 2 – RESPONSIBLE USE
2.1 The TerraFix™ 406 GPS PLB should only be used in situations of grave and imminent danger!
What exactly does this mean? Technically speaking you should only activate your PLB when all
other means of self rescue have been exhausted.
cellular/satellite phone, signaling mirrors, strobe lights, or any other safety device you may have.
When all else fails and you feel your situation has truly become extreme, ask yourself the following
questions:
Am I in danger of losing life, limb, eye sight, or valuable property if I am not rescued soon?
Am I in danger of not surviving the night or upcoming hours if not rescued soon?
If you answer yes with confidence to these questions, it is time to activate your PLB.
SECTION 3 - FALSE ALARMS
3.1 Preventing False Alarms
•
Ensure that your PLB is registered with NOAA or your national authority. This does nothing to
reduce false alarm rates, but does have a dramatic effect on the impact of a false alarm. If the PLB
is properly registered, the situation will be resolved with a phone call most of the time. It will also
help speed rescue in an actual distress.
•
Test your PLB in accordance with the recommendations enclosed in this manual.
•
Use care when leaving your PLB and with whom you leave it with. Ensure that they are aware of
the device and know the ramifications of causing a false alarm. A lot of false alarms are
generated by curious individuals.
•
Maintain your PLB. Ensure that the batteries are within their expiration date and that all
manufacturer recommendations are followed.
•
Finally, realize that the COSPAS-SARSAT satellites are very good at what they do, detecting
emergency PLBs. An activation of a 406 MHz PLB for just a few seconds will usually be
detected. After a few minutes, it will usually be detected and located. This is good if you're in
distress, but if you're not, you just generated a false alarm.
3.2 Should there be an inadvertent activation or false alarm, it must be reported to the nearest search and
rescue authorities. The information that should be reported includes the PLB Unique Identifier
Number (UIN), Date, Time, duration and cause of activation, as well as location of PLB at the time
of activation. Outside the United States contact your National Authority.
3.3 To report false alarms in the United States contact any of the following:
AFRCC-United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
This means you have tried to use your
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Tel: (800) 851-3051
Y1-03-0174 Rev. E