While on a remote, secluded island, it often strikes vacationers of how many tools are taken for granted back in the civilized world. We discover the weather and keep abreast of storms with a flick of the remote, simply pick up the phone and dial Emergency in case of accidents or other serious problems, and generally rely on an urban infrastructure supported by thousands of professionals when in need. Solitude and isolation may be a uniquely gratifying experience, but there are certain high-tech products that many wise vacationers won’t leave home without.

Thunderstorms, hurricanes and blizzards are all exceptionally dangerous for those in remote areas and cut off from support organizations. Offered through the Discovery Channel, the Weathertech Stormtracker is a portable electronic device that provides immediate information on the latest weather patterns in your area. Running on ordinary batteries, the Weathertech gives accurate forecasts, temperature and barometric readings, and helps ensure that if a storm is heading your way, you’ll have time to prepare or make it safely to the mainland.

http://shopping.discovery.com/product-65609.html

One of the worst scenarios for island owners is the prospect of being marooned due to high seas and poor weather. And with storms limiting the use of two-way radios and cell phones, alerting help to your presence can take some ingenuity. Manufactured for military use, the TerraFix Personal Locator Beacon provides a satellite-aided transmission of your GPS location directly to the closest rescue personal. The size of a television remote, the TerraFix is completely waterproof and capable of transmitting your emergency signal continuously for more than 24 hours. This essential survival tool was only recently made available for civilian use.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/406plb.php

It isn’t pleasant to contemplate, but smart islanders always bear the worst in mind- the prospect of a serious medical emergency that can’t wait until an airlift to the nearest hospital. A heart attack is dangerous even when occurring minutes from a treatment centre, and immediate attention is often required. For approximately US $1300, well-known tool maker Philips offers HeartStart, a revolutionary personal defibrillator than runs entirely on lithium batteries. When experiencing a serious heart attack, every minute that passes without defibrillation decreases the victim’s odds of survival by 10 percent. For island owners in at-risk demographics, this tool is highly recommended.   

http://www.heartstarthome.com/content/heartstart_featured.asp

Filed under: Automated Systems, Camping Equipment, First Aid, Home Security, Home and Leisure, Safety and Comfort