App Profile: BackcountrySOS

Even with the best preparation, skills and behavior, sometimes accidents happen. If they do, BackcountrySOS is a simple-to-use smartphone app that allows you to quickly get your status and location information to emergency personnel.

• Low power. It will only use your phone's GPS for the brief period where it fetches your location.

• High contrast. The app is easy to read in bright sunlight, and won't kill your vision at night.

• No setup. You don't need to setup an account or login. If it's on your phone, the app is ready to use when you need it.

• Data efficient. The app works as long as you have enough signal to squeeze out a text message. It will work in places where you can't get data access or make a voice call.

• Private. Information about you is stored only on your device, not on a central server. You control what information is sent when sending an SOS message.

The app works wherever text-to-911 service is available. Almost 1,500 counties support text-to-911 with more added each month. Additionally, a growing list of first-responders specifically monitor for BackcountrySOS communication. If you'd like your search-and-rescue region added to the app, please contact us.

Free access to the BackcountrySOS app is made possible by the generous support of the Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation as part of their BackcountyZero project. If you find the app helpful and wish to support its continued development, please consider making a donation.