Signaling for Help

If you are in distress, you can use the following signals:

• Arm signals: Extend your arms on each side and do slow repetitive gestures from top to bottom.
• EPIRB: Emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB) can be used to signal an emergency location.
• Radiotelephony: Signal can be transmitted by radiotelephony or by any other signal system consisting of the spoken word “Mayday”
• S O S: S O S (…- – -…) in Morse code using a flashlight.
• Signalling device: A continuous sound with any fog-signalling device.
• Multi Star Red Flare: Rockets or shells that shoot up red stars one at a time at short intervals.
• Rocket parachute flare: A rocket parachute flare can be used.
• Orange distress flag: The Orange distress flag is required only for recreational boats more than 20 feet in length. Day use only.
• Electric distress signal: Like a flashlight (night use only).
• Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.).
• A smoke signal giving off orange-colored smoke.
• A distress alert by means of digital selective calling (DSC) transmitted on VHF channel 70, or MF/HF on the frequencies 2187.5 kHz, 8414.5 kHz, 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz.

USCG regulations prohibit display of distress signals except when a distress actually exists. You should only use distress signals when help is close enough.