EXPIRED BEACON SEARCH A WASTE OF RESCUER’S RESOURCES
July 3, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EXPIRED BEACON SEARCH A WASTE OF RESCUER’S RESOURCES
RACQ CQ Rescue are ‘airing’ their frustration with local boaties who are needlessly wasting search and rescue resources with expired or incorrectly disposed of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs).
The Mackay-based helicopter crew are urging people with EPIRBs or PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) to regularly check batteries and expiry dates and correctly dispose of them after the chopper was activated to a beacon search very early this morning.
Residents in East Mackay were no doubt alarmed by the low-flying helicopter about 5.30am after the service was tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) that a distress beacon had been activated somewhere on the coast in East Mackay.
RACQ CQ Rescue departed base about 5.30am and homed in on the distress signal very quickly in the vicinity of Petrie Street, near Illawong Beach, but was unable to pinpoint an exact location from the air.
The helicopter returned to base and the crew, including a rescue crewman and paramedic, were then forced to return to the East Mackay area and continue the search on foot using a Tetley hand-held homer. Crews reported a lot of interference with the signal due to the proximity of the airport and large sheds in the area.
The crew doorknocked anyone with a boat visible in their yard and although they didn’t find the activated distress beacon, they did come across some other boaties with expired EPRIBs onboard their vessels.
RACQ CQ Rescue rescue crew officer Ben McCauley said situations like this meant precious emergency resources were wasted looking for beacons which had been inadvertently activated, and subsequently, that the chopper was then not be available for a genuine emergency situations.
“It’s very frustrating for our crew - all beacon activations require an emergency response, even if the distress signal is coming from the dump or from a backyard,” Mr McCauley said.
The preferred method to dispose of out-of-date EPIRBs was to attend a Battery World store where they will be disposed of free of charge.
“Please regularly assess your EPIRB and make sure it’s in good working order,” he said.
“One of the most important things to check is the battery of your emergency beacon. All beacons have a finite battery life, so owners will either need to replace their beacon or have its battery changed by the manufacturer or authorised service agent if it’s past its expiration date,” he said.
If this was not possible, owners could easily disassemble the device and disconnect the internal batteries separating the parts prior to disposal. Expiration dates were printed on the side of the beacon.
RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked to at least half a dozen accidental EPRIB activations each year, Mr McCauley said.
“In the event EPIRBs expire or end up in rubbish and do get activated, locating and switching them off is a top priority for authorities as they may mask the signal of an EPIRB activation associated with a genuine distress situation,” he said.
“Please, don’t waste our time or money. Check the battery expiry date regularly and dispose of your emergency beacons correctly. Lives really do depend on it,” he said.
The RACQ CQ Rescue crew are urging people with EPIRBs or PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) to regularly check batteries and expiry dates and correctly dispose of them after the Mackay-based chopper was activated to conduct a beacon search very early this morning.
Please credit any released photos and video footage to RACQ CQ Rescue.
Please note: Full title of rescue service is RACQ CQ Rescue.
For further information please contact:
Naomi Noy
RACQ CQ Rescue
Ph: 0417 578 182