With the summer months ahead and more boats out in the ocean, the U.S. Coast Guard has a new way to track you down in your time of need.  i911.

So you run into problems while fishing for a living, or maybe during a pleasure cruise, and you need help as fast as you can get it.  If your cell phone # is provided to the Coast Guard, then they can track you down.

If you call 911, then they already have your cell phone # and can track you down.  If maybe a relative or friend has called in for you and provided the Coast Guard your cell #, then a text with a link will be sent to you.  Clink on the link, and the GPS within your phone will then provide the Coast Guard with your exact location.

Before departing on your trip, you'll want to make sure that "Location Services" on your cell phone is turned on.  Location Services on an iPhone is located within Settings, under Privacy.  The Coast Guard tells us that teaching a distressed boater how to turn this on in an emergency situation is the hardest part of the rescue process, so, make sure that it's turned on.

Turning this on allows your cell phone's GPS service to tell others your location. Depending on your cell phone service, the GPS on your phone can provide your location up to 15 to 20 nautical miles offshore.  The Coast Guard tells us that 89% of all search and rescue cases take place less than 20 miles offshore.

According to Chief Petty Officer Andrew Cast, a command duty officer at Sector Southeastern New England, located in Wood Hole, Massachusetts, "It greatly decreases the time we spend looking for someone and get the rescue crews out faster."

We thank U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole J. Groll for providing the video above.  Be safe, everyone.

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