Signal for help using visual, auditory, and ground-to-air methods when you're lost or trapped.
When you're lost, trapped, or in need of rescue, the ability to signal effectively can mean the difference between being found and being overlooked. Search and rescue teams rely on standardized signals to locate people. This guide covers the internationally recognized distress signals, visual methods (mirrors, fires, flags), auditory methods (whistles, guns), and ground-to-air symbols that pilots look for.
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In wilderness emergencies, THREE of anything is the universal distress signal: three whistle blasts, three fires, three flashes, three gunshots. Repeat in a pattern with a pause between sets.
Pro Tip
The Rule of Three is internationally recognized by search and rescue. Three blasts = 'I need help.'
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