Personal locator beacons save lives. But they can’t make hiking safe

The popularity of hiking in Australia has surged in recent years, with a 81% increase in bushwalking over a decade. This surge in interest brings both benefits and risks, as more people venture into remote areas that were once seen as exclusive to experienced hikers. Unfortunately, this newfound popularity has led to more accidents and fatalities.

For instance, in Tasmania, a tourist died of hypothermia at Cradle Mountain and two students near Mount Bogong lost their lives. These tragedies have prompted calls for "Lily's Law," a proposed legislation aimed at raising awareness about personal locator beacons and other emergency communication devices. While these emergency devices can help locate missing hikers, they do not prevent people from getting lost or injured, nor do they make rescues any easier.

Instead of mandating the use of beacons, the focus should be on making hiker education and safety a priority. Beacons are valuable tools that send distress signals via satellite and can speed up rescues. However, they are not a guarantee of safety and can be challenging to use, especially for solo hikers who might be unable to activate them in case of a fall or loss of consciousness.

Additionally, beacons can be expensive, and some hikers may not be aware of their proper usage. Rather than mandatory schemes, it might be more effective to promote the availability of rental and loan schemes and provide comprehensive hiker education. Authorities and bushwalking clubs can expand outdoor gear libraries to enable occasional hikers to borrow and return beacons and other essential equipment.

This approach, coupled with practical education on route planning, appropriate gear, weather changes, and beacon usage, could significantly enhance hiker safety.