NSRI supports Garmin (SOS) Assistance as a new layer of safety

For anyone heading onto the water – paddlers, surfers, sailors, kite boarders, surfski enthusiasts and more – safety is never a single action. It’s a combination of habits, tools, awareness and preparation.

The NSRI’s SafeTrx app has long formed the backbone of this system, providing a reliable platform for tracking trips, logging emergency contacts and sharing live position information with loved ones and rescue teams.

This month, we’re introducing an additional layer of protection: Garmin (SOS) Assistance, now supported by the NSRI’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). Rather than replacing SafeTrx, Garmin Assistance offers a fast, physical way to call for help at moments when your phone, and your fingers, may not be able to keep up.

Anyone who spends time on the water knows how quickly conditions can change. Cold water, wind, and high stress can make fine motor skills difficult, and phones often sit inside waterproof pouches, where touchscreens become unresponsive. In those moments, a device with a hard, tactile button can make all the difference.

Rizia Khan, NSRI Supervisor at the EOC, explains: “Garmin is highly effective in cold, wet or high-stress environments. It integrates very well with SafeTrx and remains easy to operate even when users are wearing gloves or have wet hands.”

For those relying on their hands in harsh conditions, Garmin’s physical SOS trigger adds meaningful peace of mind.

How Garmin Assistance works

Garmin’s Assistance feature enables users to send an emergency alert directly from their smartwatch, provided it is paired with the Garmin Connect app on their phone.

To activate Assistance:

1. Hold the LIGHT button on the Garmin device for 7–10 seconds.

2. The watch sends an emergency signal through your phone to Garmin’s servers.

3. If the NSRI has been added as a contact, the EOC receives:

• Your triggered and live GPS location

• Your emergency contact information

• A notification that you need assistance.

The NSRI then follows its standard incident-response protocol.

“When a distress call is triggered, we receive an immediate email notification,” says Rizia. “We’re provided with live GPS co-ordinates and the person in distress’s listed emergency contact. We then activate the appropriate NSRI station and attempt direct contact with the person in distress.”

Some Garmin models also allow you to accept incoming calls (you would need to select the option to allow notifications through workouts) – a helpful feature when your phone is stowed away, or your hands are wet and cold.

A correct setup is essential. Recent trials with members of the surfski community confirmed that reliable activation depends on accurate configuration.

How to set up Garmin Assistance

On the Garmin Connect app or your watch:
1. Go to:  Safety & Tracking → Safety Contacts → Add Emergency Contact.

2. Add your own info with as much detail as possible under the Name Field:

•  Full name & surname

• Cell number

• Alternative number

• Relationship (e.g. “wife”, “friend”, “son”).

Garmin limits the fields available, so use all available space under your own name to ensure NSRI and responders get the full picture.

3. Then, add the NSRI’s details:

•  Name: NSRI Emergency

• Email: operations@searescue.org.za

• Phone: +27 82 9947555

• Relationship: Emergency Services.

4. NSRI will show as ‘Pending’ until they accept your request. Once accepted, you’re good to go.

As Rizia notes, “Ensuring the NSRI email and emergency number are saved as primary contacts is the key step.”

Once your Garmin is set up, it becomes a simple and reliable addition to your safety toolkit. SafeTrx remains the NSRI’s primary monitoring tool, offering full-voyage tracking, departure alerts, and detailed emergency profile information. Garmin complements this by providing users with a quick, physical way to signal distress when every second counts.

For everyone spending time on or near the water, the combination of SafeTrx and Garmin Assistance creates a stronger, smarter safety net.

Stay prepared. Use SafeTrx. Add Garmin Assistance. And trust that the NSRI is ready to respond when you need us most.