What is a good age to teach your kids how to use your EPIRB?

[TheDude]

Just bought one to take paragliding on my own, and hiking with my boy.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm not a parent, so bear in mind that I have no idea what I am talking about, but for me, when it comes to emergency equipment, it should be as early as possible.  I'm not sure how to explain to a child the difference between needing a band aid and needing an emergency airlift out of a gorge where you just cut your own arm off, but perhaps you can say "If Daddy can't answer you then you need to press this button" and then teach them to stay nearby, maybe climb a tree for safety.

All in all, I think a false alarm is a better result than being injured in the woods somewhere with your boy and no way out for either of you. 

Again, I am not a parent so I have no idea, but these are my completely unfounded thoughts on the subject. 

Def

[anditsgone]

if i may ask, what is EPIRB?

[Top-Gear-24]

if i may ask, what is EPIRB?

I thought there was something wrong with me because I didn't understand it either ... phew.  Gives me a change to use this smiley  (no offence anditsgone  ).

[strmliner]

if i may ask, what is EPIRB?

Check this out...  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_position-indicating_radiobeacon_station

[Grant Lamontagne]

Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.  One of those fancy GPS units that you press a button when the poo hits the fan and you need help.

http://www.epirb.com/

It's basically a bigger, more powerful Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

Def

[strmliner]

Just bought one to take paragliding on my own, and hiking with my boy.

Did you buy an EPIRB or a PLB?  I would think a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for the activities you mention, but it's your toy.

As for teaching kids about these, I'd say around 6-7yrs depending on how much and where you'd be hiking.  It's like teaching them to use a house phone and/or a cell phone for emergencies.

[anditsgone]

Okay now i know what it is i would say as soon as possible but not that soon when they are still at an age where they press every button they see.

[gregozedobe]

As soon as they are able to understand when to use it (and when not to).

[yud]

Take this with a grain of salt as I neither own an epirb or a kid.  But if you two are going off alone then he should know when and how to operate it, so I suppose the question is when do you take him into that possible position?

If on the other hand you two are going out with other adults then it can wait until you are sure he is ready.

[Sea Monster]

You really have to judge any given kids' abilities.

I know a 4 year old I'm hard pressed to trust with a spoon, and a 7 year old who can drive a car  (however he's also a candidate for taking over the world, so I don't really leave him alone in a room with anything that could potentially be turned into a death ray)


Assuming a well balanced child, I suppose 8-10 they'd be about ready, but you know your kid best and can gauge where they're at.