Distress Signals
What can be seen and heard from a distance
The number three, everywhere
- Three fires, three signals, three whistle blasts
- Rhythm: three signals, pause, three signals
- Rescuers respond with three signals of their own
- A single campfire is not a recognized signal
- SOS Morse code: three dots, dashes, dots
Signal mirror
- Aim using the hole: reflect the sun onto your hand
- Bring the mirror to your eye, look for the spot of light
- Without a hole: spread your fingers in a V toward the target
- Range up to 160 km in very clear air
- Flash slowly, never in rapid bursts
Ground signals (min. 1 m x 6 m)
- V = need assistance
- X = need medical assistance
- N = no, Y = yes, arrow = direction taken
- Maximum contrast, never under trees
- Orange = international distress color
Facing a helicopter
- Arms raised in a Y = yes, need help
- One arm up, one down = no, everything is fine
- Stay still, back to the wind if possible
- Secure any object that could blow away
- Only approach when explicitly signaled by the crew
Whistle and voice
- A whistle carries up to 1.6 km, your voice 500 m
- Your voice gets exhausted in just a few minutes
- Three hard strikes carry well in a gorge or cave
Phone without signal
- 112 works through any available network carrier
- SMS sometimes gets through when voice calls fail
- Gain elevation, head for an open ridge
- Satellite SOS (iPhone 14+): requires a clear view of the sky
- Airplane mode saves battery in dead zones
lostandalive.com/guide/signaler · 112 (Europe) · 911 (Amérique du Nord)