COSPAS-SARSAT, an international satellite system for search and rescue, began in 1982 and has been credited with saving thousands of lives since then. Hundreds of thousands of aviators, mariners and land users worldwide are equipped with COSPAS-SARSAT distress beacons, EPIRBs or PLBs, which could help save their lives in emergency situations anywhere in the world. The satellites are constantly circling the globe monitoring for distress signals, while tracking stations on six continents receive the satellite signals, compute the locations of the distress events and forward the calls for help to the appropriate rescue authorities.
Further reading about EPIRBS and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs):
How to Register an EPIRB or PLB
Marine Electronics Review - SPOT Personal Locator Beacon
Marine Electronics Review - ACR Electronics AquaFix 406 I/O Personal Locator Beacon
Marine Electronics Review - ACR Electronics ResQFix 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon
Marine Electronics Review - ACR Electronics GlobalFix iPRO EPIRB
