I'm not sure what type of beacon was attached to the kid at your school. The SPOT devices don't have a loud audible alarm.

I can see an argument both ways. If you are truly remote, you need a satellite-based locater with GPS. But it doesn't hurt to also have a device that makes really loud sounds ... like one of those 130-dB horns. Some people carry them to fotball games, and stuff like that. It would helpful for guiding a rescue team when they get close.

cheers,
Pete #2