Signaling for Help

You should prepare help signals as soon as possible to ensure you do not miss a chance of rescue. The international sign for distress is three of any signal (three blasts on a whistle, three flashes with a mirror, three fires evenly spaced, etc.).

Here are some tools that can help you in signaling for help:

• Personal locator beacon (subscription may be required)
  • SPOT
  • ACR
  • Garmin
• Cellular phone
  • in rugged case
  • fully charged
  • put in “airplane mode” when out of service or turn off completely until needed
• Satellite telephone
• Signal mirror
  • Place the mirror close to your right eye
  • Extend left arm out fully with hand “gunsight” (to target rescuers)
  • Bounce the reflected light up and down the “V” of your left hand
  • Shift your “V” and the reflection of your target
• Flashlight/Headlamp
  • 170 lumens or higher recommended
  • backup batteries
• Whistle
  • Carries farther than your voice in most conditions
  • International distress signal is 3 sharp blasts
• Signal fire/fire-starting devices
  • Waterproof matches (cigarette lighters are not reliable based on altitude, wind conditions and moisture)
  • Flint and steel
  • Alcohol-based hand cleaner
  • Chemical fuel tablets
  • 20-minute highway flare
• Ground messages (create a large, visible message for air-rescue)
  • Dirt
  • Sticks/branches/downed trees
  • Rocks
  • Junk/Debris