Signaling for Help

Proper signaling can mean the difference between being rescued and being left for dead in the wilderness. 

A good survival kit can be extremely helpful in carrying out the following signaling techniques:

• Fire. Most effective during darkness. Build three fires in a triangle formation (international distress signal). Build the fire in a natural or man-made clearing to avoid starting a forest fire. Burning a tree will also attract attention, but is extremely dangerous, as it may start a forest fire. Burn a tree only as a signaling technique of last resort! If you decide to burn a tree, always select one that is set apart from other trees, and preferably near a water source.
   
• Smoke. Effective during daylight. Create three columns of smoke (international distress signal). Create white smoke against a dark background and vice versa. To create a white smoke, smother a fire with green leaves, moss or water. To create black smoke, add rubber or oil-soaked rags to the fire.
   
• Mirrors or Shiny Objects. Best on a sunny day. Mirror signals can be seen over 70 miles under normal conditions in most environments.
   
• Flashlight. Best at night. Use a flashlight to send an SOS signal--three short blips followed by three long blips.
   
• Clothing. Spread clothing on the ground or on top of a tree. Use bright colors if possible. Arrange the clothes in an unnatural geometric pattern to distinguish the clothes from your surroundings.
   
• Natural Material. Use natural materials to spell out an SOS. In snow-covered areas, tramp down the snow to form letters and fill in with contrasting material such as twigs or dirt. In sand, use vegetation. In brush-covered areas, cut out patterns in the vegetation. In tundra, dig trenches or turn sod upside down. As a general rule, use material that contrasts with the background.

The following is a table of Ground-to-Air Emergency Code: