Beekeepers Associaton of the ACT

Satellite technology is now available at a small cost for the safety of beekeepers who keep their hives long distances from home and population centres.

Emergency Plan

All beekeepers should have an emergency plan in case something happens while they are working at a remote apiary location. This plan should start by advising family members or colleagues of the location of the apiary, how long they will be at the apiary and when they are due to return home.

A good quality first aid kit is also a must.

Get Help via Satellite

It is especially important that beekeepers have an effective means of communication available to them to seek help should it be needed. Mobile phones are a convenient and valuable resource. However there is often no service near the apiary.

Space age technology in the form of a small portable emergency radio transmitter known as a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is now available to the Beekeeper should all other means to summon help be unsuccessful.

Already used by bushwalkers, 4 wheel drivers and people venturing into remote areas for work or recreation, these devices have proved their effectiveness many times in an emergency.

PLBs are essentially the same as those carried onboard ships at sea (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons - EPIRBs) and aircraft (Emergency Locator Transmitters ELTs).

Activation of an emergency beacon will alert rescue services through the nearest Rescue Coordination Centre. The satellite system in Australia is operated by the national search and rescue organisation, Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR), which is part of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

New generation 406MHz beacons provide, amongst other benefits, a unique identification within its transmitted signal, enabling the emergency services to know to whom the beacon belongs and quickly obtain their emergency contact details.

The emergency services will respond to all distress beacon detections.

The best part of the service is that, apart from a small initial cost to purchase the PLB, it is free to all users.

For more information:

Australian Maritime Safety Authority - Beacons

COSPAS/SARSAT Organisation

NOAA Satellite and Information Service