Missing Persons Statistics: How GPS Revolutionizes Search and Rescue

When someone goes missing, every minute can be the difference between life and death. Search and Rescue (SAR) teams and operations are key to finding missing people and saving lives. Yet without the right technology at their fingertips, they can struggle to reach the people most in need in time.

GPS revolutionizes search and rescue by allowing authorities to home in on a person’s exact position or the location of a vehicle or personal belongings. With the right trackers in place, GPS technology can play a vital role in reuniting missing people with their friends and families.

The Global Scope of Missing Persons Cases

Recently, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) released a report with some alarming facts and figures. The report goes through missing persons statistics in all areas of the globe.

Overseas, many people go missing due to conflict, immigration issues, and human rights mishaps. In America, people can go missing for many reasons, ranging from health difficulties to crime.

Key Statistics on Missing Persons

Worldwide, it’s hard to get an accurate figure on the number of people who have gone missing. However, there were at least 180,000 people reported missing and recorded by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which they say is an 80% increase over 5 years.

Alarmingly, in the United States, there are over half a million missing persons cases reported every year. While most of these people were eventually found, at the end of 2023, 96,955 people were still unaccounted for and their cases were still open.

People under the age of 21 account for over a third of all missing persons cases in America. The FBI report linked above also reports cases where:

• Disabled individuals were reported missing because they may be in danger due to their condition
• Someone is in immediate physical danger
• Victims of abduction or kidnapping
• Anyone missing after a catastrophe or disaster

State laws may define missing persons differently, but in most cases, if someone is afraid that a missing person may be in danger, the authorities will take action.

Causes and Circumstances of Missing Persons Cases

Natural disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, and floods, are a primary cause of missing persons. While families and friends may strive to stay together, it’s easy to get separated during a crisis.

Non-natural catastrophes and accidents can also cause people to seemingly disappear. A severe road traffic incident is one example. An injured person might try to find help only to become incapacitated. Finding them quickly is the key to their survival.

Abductions are another distressing reason that people go missing. Children are, sadly, most likely to be victims of kidnapping, usually by a member of their own family.

Missing persons may also be individuals with mental health difficulties or neurological conditions that lead to confusion and memory loss. While these individuals often have carers, those carers may not be able to watch them 24/7. Having ways to track down individuals who have possibly wandered into dangerous situations is essential.

The Challenges of Traditional Search and Rescue

Traditional SAR techniques require time, patience, and significant levels of skill. Methods include:

• Manual on-foot searching: SAR teams and volunteers will search through local areas to find any evidence that could help them narrow the missing person’s location.
• Specially trained dogs: Some SAR teams use trained dogs that can track a scent through undergrowth, muddy ground, and other areas where evidence can easily be lost.
• Helicopter search: Helicopters with searchlights can cover a wide area, although they can’t see the same level of detail as a team on the ground.

These techniques can lead to success but the overall strategy does have challenges.

Limited Resources and Time Constraints

On-foot search parties often rely on volunteers, and those may be few and far between. People may have work or family commitments, or they simply might not want to help.

Not all SAR teams have access to dogs or helicopters. Those who do have to rely on the organizational and operational skills of team leaders to strategize effectively, meaning not all SAR operations are equal.

Time is the most important factor in all these traditional SAR methods. When someone is missing, they need help fast. Whether they’re injured or in distress, the faster a team can get to them, the more positive the outcome is likely to be.

Difficulty in Navigating Remote or Dangerous Areas

Searches get slowed even further when moving into difficult terrain. When someone goes missing around a deep forest or mountainous area, rough terrain and poor visibility can slow operations.

However, even urban searches can be tricky. Authorities may have to rely on strangers letting them into private buildings. Abandoned, condemned, and boarded-up buildings can also present major obstacles.

How GPS Technology Is Revolutionizing Search and Rescue

In all of the above situations, a GPS tracking device could significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to find a missing person. Rather than searching fruitlessly across an ill-defined area, a GPS tracker can provide an accurate location to focus on. The expansion of GPS device usage has drastically influenced the way SAR teams operate.

How GPS Improves Search Efficiency

GPS trackers use satellite signals and similar technologies to provide real-time location information. Most link to some sort of app, either on a computer or smartphone/tablet, that can obtain and display that location on a map. Some will even show historical data, allowing searchers to see the recent movements of the missing person.

This real-time tracking reduces the need for manual searching and helps SAR teams locate missing persons fast.

They’re particularly useful in remote locations where other techniques, such as tracking the signal of a phone, wouldn’t work.

GPS-Enabled Devices Used in SAR

There are a number of GPS devices used in SAR operations. Personal GPS trackers are lightweight devices that clip onto a person or their belongings or are carried in a bag or pocket. As long as these have a charge, they will constantly transmit the location of the person they’re attached to.

Cell phones also have GPS, although it’s up to the user of the phone to switch the GPS location feature on. When a phone’s battery dies, some software can show its last known location, which can help narrow down a search area.

Another method utilized by SAR teams is GPS-enabled drones with cameras. These are particularly useful where people have become lost outdoors during activities like hiking or biking in remote areas. SAR operational specialists can track these drones using GPS technology.

Integrating GPS With SAR Teams

Most GPS tracker manufacturers deliberately make it simple to share location data with authorities like SAR teams. They can either provide their login details so SAR teams can track the person directly or liaise with them throughout the process.

SAR teams can also share this data with other teams for truly collaborative and coordinated efforts.

GPS Devices for Personal Use: Tracking Loved Ones and At-Risk Individuals

GPS trackers make it possible to protect vulnerable family members from going missing.

GPS Trackers for Children

GPS trackers for children are becoming more popular with parents who want to provide freedom for their kids while understanding where they are at all times. With consent, a small, lightweight tracker can be attached to a bag, bike, or even placed in a pocket.

GPS for the Elderly and Dementia Patients

Those with mobility issues or neurological struggles like dementia may find themselves in difficult situations from time to time. If no one knows where they are, they may quickly become distressed, injured, or ill. GPS for the elderly and infirm helps carers know exactly where an individual is and if they’re likely to be safe or not. For example, if a carer can see that someone is in their own bedroom, they’re more likely to be safe than if the tracker shows them wandering down a main street. Having this information helps carers and family members make informed decisions.

GPS for dementia patients is particularly useful as even when contacted, someone who is confused or experiencing memory issues may not be able to explain where they are. A GPS tracker allows the authorities or carers to locate the individual and ensure their safety.

Outdoor Enthusiasts: GPS for Hikers and Adventurers

Outdoor pursuits are an exciting way to stay fit and get close to nature. However, it’s possible to become lost or even stranded when adventuring over rough terrain. GPS trackers can help your loved ones locate you with ease and let the authorities know where you are if you need rescuing.

How GPS Reduces Search Times and Increases Rescue Success Rates

The more people who own GPS tracking devices, the easier it is for SAR teams to find them. A woman in Sydney with dementia went missing after she walked several kilometers and took a 45-minute train journey. Authorities wouldn’t have known where she was if not for the personal tracking device she wore. Despite going missing in a crowded area with no clue as to which direction she had traveled in, she was found after just five hours.

Faster Response = Higher Survival Rates

The use of GPS trackers helps SAR teams get where they’re needed so much faster. This can be the difference between life and death. The best outcomes are possible with the right GPS tracking technology.

The Future of GPS in Search and Rescue

As GPS technology advances, devices may become even more useful for finding missing people.

Advancements in GPS Technology for SAR Operations

AI and machine learning can help create predictive search patterns for on-foot searches based on a GPS-indicated location. They use masses of data combined with the context of the current situation to estimate the likelihood of finding the person in a particular location.

The Role of GPS Drones in Expanding Search Areas

Some advanced drones also use AI algorithms to plot a search course that’s most likely to result in success. These are ideal for navigating wider areas, rough terrain, or entering areas that pose a risk to life and health for SAR teams.

Enhanced Satellite and GPS Networks

Many countries are investing heavily in GPS satellite networks that are more powerful and more accurate. These will significantly help SAR efforts by increasing the number of locations where GPS trackers are effective.

Legal and Ethical Considerations of Using GPS for Tracking

While it may seem intuitive to use GPS trackers to keep an eye on your loved ones, there can be legal and ethical concerns. If someone is in direct and present danger, the police have the right to track their GPS technology. However, in some cases, they may need to obtain a warrant to access data.

To save time, family members could gain consent for this as soon as the individual in question gains a GPS device.

Privacy Concerns and GPS Usage

If someone is tracked using their cell phone or other GPS device without their consent, this constitutes a breach of their privacy. In essence, it’s the same as someone following another individual and discovering their location — it’s illegal without consent.

Ensuring Consent in Vulnerable Populations

When providing a tracker to children, the elderly, or other vulnerable people, it’s critical that they understand why you’re giving it to them and that they agree to you tracking them. Explain the benefits, including safety and protection. When someone has a carer or other third party who is authorized to make decisions for them, ensure they understand all the details and provide consent accordingly. Document any conversations and obtain signatures where necessary to reduce the risk of legal ramifications later down the line.

GPS as a Game-Changer in Search and Rescue

GPS revolutionizes search and rescue operations by empowering professionals to find missing persons faster. However, you don’t need to wait until something tragic happens to implement GPS technology. By integrating GPS tracking technology into daily life, you’re prepared for accidents, disasters, and other incidents that can separate you from loved ones. With the right tracking technology in place, SAR operations are faster, more efficient, and much more likely to succeed.

If you want more information on GPS trackers, contact LandAirSea, and a member of our friendly team will answer any questions you may have.