Garmin inReach Mini or similar locator beacon/satellite communicator? These are subscription based devices that use communication satellites to contact a private. dispatching service, which in turn contacts your local emergency services and gives them your GPS coordinates. The best of these (Garmin inReach devices, iMO) pair with your smartphone and let you text back and forth with the dispatch service and with local emergency services, which is useful when describing the nature or location of the emergency. You can also use these devices to contact anyone with an e-mail address or mobile phone, which is nice when the situation doesn't call for emergency services. The big caveat is that, if you are under tree cover or at a low point between mountains, it can take a long time to pick up a satellite signal. Not cheap, but they are useful.
I was going to say the same. Assuming you're not underground or in a metal box hitting the magic button on am inreach should provide pin point accuracy. But it's worth noting that the sequence of events goes something like:
- magic button pressed.
- signal sent via satellite (may take a minute or two to lock on)
- message received at GAOS centre in the US.
- message sent back "what's up?"
- operator looks at the location, looks up number of local agency to contact.
- operator contacts local party in the UK. If no reply to the what's up message has been received, they are likely to have to make an assumption on what care you need. That may mean a cop comes to look at you, who then calls an ambulance. Or they may send everything they can. What you get is anyone's guess. It also relies on the person answering the phone in the UK believing that someone calling from an operations centre in the US is real, and being able to translate the info provided (lat + long + name + any info provided in reply).
In short. It will work. It may not be fast. If you are FAST positive, or sitting in a w position having had 300mg of aspirin, i would have hoped for a fixed landline to make the call on if there's a road to where i am...
J