Garmin just released its 2024 report on satellite messenger SOS calls, detailing who made the calls, where they originated, what activities were involved, and more. In our latest YouTube video, Neil shares some insights and unpacks trends from the data. Watch it here…

Since 2011, Garmin’s inReach satellite technology has helped people reach loved ones and, in the worst-case scenario, emergency services. Garmin shares its SOS data each year, which is great because accidents happen, and understanding those scenarios helps everyone prepare better. While Garmin didn’t mention the total number of SOS calls in 2023, in 2022, they reported over 10,000. In 2024, that number jumped big time, with Garmin receiving some 15,000 SOS calls last year.

In my latest video, I examine the data and unpack some potential causes for the uptick in SOS calls, especially amid a year with a record number of extreme natural disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. Users across six continents and three oceans triggered SOS calls, with most concentrated in western North America. Learn what people were doing, who they were calling for, and who responded in the video above.

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