As warming temperatures continue to lure more boaters to the water, officials with NOAA’s Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System (COSPAS-SARSAT) are urging beacon owners to review the registration and identification numbers for their devices before heading out.
“It’s critical for beacon owners to check this information and make sure their phone numbers and an emergency point-of-contact are included, so first responders can act without delay,” NOAA SARSAT program manager Chris O’Connors said in a statement.
By law, all emergency locator beacons must be registered with NOAA. To register or update a registration, visit http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/beacon.html.
O’Connors added that beacon owners planning a trip can provide their itinerary in the additional data field of the registration information. “Having this knowledge is invaluable for rescuers and can drastically cut down the time it takes to save a life.”
