406 Day is a national campaign run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a day to celebrate the over 50,000 lives that have been saved through the use of 406 MHz beacons and the Cospas-Sarsat Satellite system. This day also serves to raise awareness about the benefits and responsibilities of owning Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) while boating.
Every year, thousands of people take to the water for recreation and adventure. However, with the excitement of boating comes the risk of accidents and emergency situations. Being prepared for such scenarios is critical. EPIRBs and PLBs are lifesaving tools that can help ensure boaters and their families stay safe while enjoying the water.
- An emergency locator beacon is used to alert Search and Rescue assets by transmitting a coded message on the 406 MHz distress frequency via satellite to the nearest Rescue Coordination Center.
- Boaters mount an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) which is registered to the vessel, waterproof and may be manually or automatically activated.
- A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is registered to a person, may be operated on land or water, and must be manually activated with the antennae out of the water with a clear view of the sky to properly function.
- All emergency locator beacons must be registered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prior to use.
In celebration of #406Day, remember to register, test, and maintain your devices. Owning and using an EPIRB or PLB is the best way to increase the likeliness a boater is found in an emergency situation.