What Was Privacy Worth To These Folks?
Cell phone GPS saves lost hikers
Updated: 8/21/2006 12:03 AM
By: Associated Press
CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — A cell phone call may have saved a couple’s life in Cleveland County, but not in the typical way.
Emergency 911 operators used GPS signals set by a cell phone to locate Sonya Bolin and Scott Wiggins after they got lost hiking in the woods near Buffalo Creek.
Bolin overheated and became dehydrated, so they called 911, sending their exact location to rescuers.
“We took the coordinate and programmed it into one of our hand held instruments on the way to the scene, and we were ready to go into the woods and try to locate the lady,†explained Dewey Cook, the Cleveland County EMA director.
Tuesday was the first time GPS units were used to find a caller in Cleveland County, but on Friday, the system was used again when a caller passed out during an emergency call. GPS displayed the coordinates, and crews were able to locate the woman. Link to article:
Just a little feel good Monday morning piece. I find the folks who rant and rave the most about GPS phone and tracking are the ones that have never been lost … or have never had the frustration of trying to find another person in distress.
GPS phones can only be used to track people when they are turned on … and in many cases, when the phone places a call … so what’s the big issue. Hmmm? dave(at)satviz(dot)com