A new way to call emergency services via satellite

Crack. A problem, a serious fracture, occurs hundreds of kilometers from civilization. There is no cell coverage, no WiFi. It’s time to take out the satellite phone or emergency beacon to summon help. Or the good old iPhone, if it’s version 14 or 15.

Indeed, Apple has included a satellite emergency call function in its iPhone 14 and 15 models. There is a caveat to this new functionality, but it is still an additional tool in the trunk of outdoor enthusiasts.

Maxime Lajoie, an entrepreneur from Baie-Comeau, experienced this new function despite himself last September. He was doing work near his chalet, 330 kilometers from Baie-Comeau, when the mechanical excavator he was using overturned. A steel rod broke and trapped both of his legs.

He made an emergency call on his iPhone 14. After answering a few automated questions, he was connected to emergency services via text message.

“There were some delays in sending messages due to the metal of the excavator, but I put the phone as high as possible and it worked,” recalls Maxime Lajoie.

Given the isolation of the injured person, help took time to arrive, but the emergency service employee remained on the line throughout the ordeal. The ambulance ride to the hospital took four and a half hours.

“Atrocious,” says Maxime Lajoie.

The father escaped with fractures to the tibia and fibula in his left leg and two fractures to his right foot. He is still recovering.

He knew his iPhone 14 had the ability to make an emergency call via satellite. In fact, this factor had played a role in the decision to purchase this model.

Apple offers satellite emergency calling service free for two years after device purchase. You must use an operating system of iOS 16.1 or later.

There are different types of devices for communicating with emergency services, by satellite, in the event of an accident in a remote area. Obviously, the cost increases with the number of options offered. The simplest device is a personal locator beacon. It does not require an annual subscription, it can send a distress signal, but it cannot specify the nature of the problem.

The SPOT type messaging device can send a short pre-programmed message. However, you must obtain a subscription. Additionally, it uses the Global Star network, which has relatively few satellites. So there are “holes” in its coverage.

There are also devices, like inReach, that allow communications in both directions. This is a function that is essential in the eyes of outdoor professionals, like Vincent Marcil, climbing instructor.

“I want the ability to communicate by text beyond just asking for emergency help,” he says. I didn’t know the iPhone allowed two-way communication. I’m interested. »

Sébastien Lapierre, the first Canadian to have reached the South Pole alone and in full autonomy, is also intrigued by the new satellite emergency call function of the iPhone 14. However, it brings a significant drawback.

He says it’s a “quite a sell” at inReach.

“Extraordinary autonomy, waterproof, really resistant, Iridium satellite coverage and not Global Star, like SPOT, interesting modular packages, possibility of suspending the subscription, etc. », he lists.

For his part, Vincent Marcil used the Zoleo during a recent expedition to Ama Dablam. Like inReach, it uses the Iridium satellite network and allows communications in both directions.

“The Zoleo was perfect for my needs,” he says.

The ultimate remains the satellite telephone, which allows real voice conversations. You have to pay the price. However, it is possible to rent a device, which can allow you to save some money.

Before making a decision, you must assess your needs and think about your habits. And judge whether you are able to keep your iPhone charged enough to deal with emergency situations.