In February 2023, Somewear’s software platform was used by Cal Fire, Pebble Beach Security, and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to enable interagency situational awareness that ultimately saved the life of a golf caddie, who collapsed during the world-renowned Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament. The tournament attracts top professional golfers and celebrities from around the world and thousands of spectators each year.
In the past, we knew someone was out there, but we didn’t know exactly where they were. Teams were placed in zones, but considering the size of the golf course, those zones were still large. Somewear has allowed us to maintain a real-time understanding of each teams’ location and movement, and we can immediately identify the nearest unit when an emergency takes place.
The ability to distribute Somewear Global Hotspots across agencies maximized situational awareness in the Incident Command Post (ICP) which ultimately empowered us to decrease response time, improve communication, and ultimately allowed the teams on the ground to focus on the operation.
The Challenge
Securing special events, especially golf tournaments, is a complex task given the large land mass, moving crowds, and open air environments. “A golf course tournament is much different and significantly more challenging than a stadium event. Stadium’s are simple compared to golf courses” said Peter Brown, Director of Security at Pebble Beach. Potential radio interference and traffic congestion aside, the sheer size of the golf course and surrounding areas makes it challenging for security teams to navigate the course without losing sight of where they are.
Security and medical teams at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am have historically relied solely on radios to communicate and coordinate their emergency response efforts. The ICP did not have access to the field personnel’s real-time location.
The additional seconds or minutes it takes mobile field personnel to find their bearings, coordinate and direct interagency teams on the ground could be the difference between life and death.
As a result, the Pebble Beach security team and MCSO was seeking a resilient, interoperable platform that enables real-time communication, tracking, and situational awareness to support emergency response efforts.
The Solution
Every security member and medical cart was equipped with a Somewear Global Hotspot for reliable, real-time tracking. In the ICP, the dispatchers from Cal Fire, Pebble Beach Security, and MCSO were able to work together to track personnel across agencies, using Somewear Grid Web, and rapidly coordinate their response. Somewear provided a major advantage over handheld radio transmissions for communications and persistent awareness.
Within 25 seconds of the caddie’s cardiac arrest, the dispatcher had delivered the patients location and information to the medical cart, and they were enroute. The ICP maintained real-time situational awareness of the medical cart as it responded, thus minimizing communication requirements which saved critical life-saving seconds. Within 3 minutes the cart was onsite and began lifesaving actions.
The platform’s advanced communication and tracking capabilities, combined with the expertise and quick response of multiple agencies, was critical to the success of the emergency response.
For the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, we’re particularly focused on response times and reducing them as much as possible.
The Results
- Lifesaving emergency response (< 3 min.)
- Increased interagency situational awareness
- Minimized communication requirements
Products
Node
MESH & SATELLITEAn encrypted multi-network solution, combining the efficiency of mesh radios and resilience of satellite communication with SmartBackhaul™ technology.
Global Hotspot
SATELLITEAn encrypted, resilient satellite solution that integrates into any kit. Ideal for asset tracking and for isolated personnel who require SATCOM to stay connected.
Grid
Web, iOS, Android, ATAKEstablish situational awareness that encompasses all assets and empower your team, from operator to command, to maintain complete control of missions.