This young fellow got lost -- and then showed a lot more sense than most adults. Gotta love it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scoti...woods-1.3917013

I would like to add a compass to that list.

PS. N.S. Does that stand for Nova Scotia?

"I started to panic," he said. "I sat down for a minute, calmed down and I moved into this big clearing and sent my mom my coordinates."

"...it was starting to get dark and Josh was hungry and cold. He made a shelter and ate some spruce buds."

Smart guy! So glad this one ended well!

He definitely gets an "A." It would be interesting to know how precise those coordinates were. If they were anywhere near correct, reaching him quickly should have been routine....

Good share. Good kid.

More information. Very impressed with how well he kept calm and used what he knew.

http://www.thecoastguard.ca/news/local/2...-searchers.html

Coordinates, per second article
43.749949284717935 -65.364324605317

when you drop that into google maps
43°44'59.8"N 65°21'51.6"W

Latitude distances
Degree = 69 miles
Minute = 6068 Ft.
Second = 101 ft



Not an expert, but 43 degrees 44 minutes 59.8 seconds, that should be accurate within what, 50 feet or less? Or am I expecting too much from a cheap phone?

Google Earth view (satellite)for those coordinates shows a heavily wooded area.

That kid did more than most (nearly all) adult victims who have been "mighty confused", in my experience. Bravo!!

Yep, drop that numerical sequence into the google earth search bar and it shows you a graphic presentation located WSW of Shelburne (closer to Birchtown), with the lat-long location to 1/10 of an arc second. That's fairly precise (not to be confused with accurate) and probably as good as you can expect from a cell phone. The fact that he was found and brought home based on that locating info is all the validation required imo. Dropping that numerical sequence into a text message shows good head-work.

I've found my phone's GPS is hit and miss. Sometimes it's spot on and sometimes I've, "arrived at your destination," in the middle of the road far from where I should be.

Phones use the towers and Wi-Fi to get a more accurate fix. In the middle of a more remote location it probably had a much greater margin of error.

The other cause of error would be that each phone would measure a slightly different location. This would widen the radius of uncertainty.

LOL, I once heard a GPS location described as accurate to 20', +/- 1/2 mile.

My first GPS receiver was a Garmin GPS V which had an "Average" function. This function allowed the receiver to average its position over long time periods and many satellites to improve its accuracy. That old GPS could get accuracies down to 12' iirc.

Are there any apps available for phones that average its location over time to improve the accuracy? Would it help?

Interesting.

What is the easiest/simplest way for a person to find their GPS coordinates and copy it for insertion into a text message if using an Android phone?

By easy/simple I'm thinking with the least learning and highest likelihood of success when tired or slightly paniced.

Also, what format do you feel is easiet for potential rescuers (both neighbors and professionals) to use?

How might a typical neighbor use the coordinates to find the boy?

Method 1:

Find your location:

*Open Google Maps
*Press the My Locations bullseye to find where you are on the map
*Zoom in on the map ashowing much as possible
*Press and hold the map as close to your location and a possible and a flag will pop up
*In the search box will be your location
*Copy and paste it into a text

To convert the Latitude and longitude into a map location:

Copy the text information into the Google Maps search box and press search.

Method 2:

Depending on your version of Android try holding the power button when the phone is on. If a button marked "Emergency Mode" pops up:

*Press the emergency mode button. The phone will go into a special version of ultra power saving mode that will allow you to send your location to your preprogrammed emergency contacts.

This mode greatly limits what apps and features are avaliable to you. My personal opinion is I would only use it if my battery was close to empty or I would use it to send the SOS and then go back to normal mode.

To go back to normal mode just hold the power button again.

Method 3:

I've never tried this (if someone has please post what happens):

Depending on your version of Android if you press the power button quickly three times the phone should take front and back pictures and send them with your location to your emergency contacts

Regarding another issue mentioned by the 11 yo: Keep your battery charged. The lower half of my battery is "reserved". I rarely see a battery charge below 60% and I prefer to have it above 90% any time I leave the house. Going on a long walk the battery will definitely start out fully charged.

There is an app for that, called "Here I Am", It will text your location on a map. I have used it quite a bit and it is accurate enough.

Quietly_Learning,

I NEVER knew - or even noticed - the emergency mode in my Android. That is soooo cool.

Thanks so very much. Now I need to teach that to my family and friends.

As per a recent thread about how this generation was losing survival skills, I guess this young man did not get the memo.

Thanks KenK, happy to contribute to the forum.

At 11 years old , I would have been lucky to make a walking stick. This kid did OK.