Wilderness Survival Distress Signals

Travel takes us to a lot of destinations off the beaten path. It’s important to have some basic wilderness survival skills if you’re going to explore the world. Here are a few distress signals that can help you stay alive if you find yourself lost in, say, the Amazon.

Visual Signals

Ideally, you’d purchase a mirror designed specifically for signaling to take with you. However you can improvise with things you probably already have in your pack. Glass, makeup mirrors, metal lids and even camera flashes can be used to notify emergency vehicles of your whereabouts.

Fire

Rescue teams are trained to look for fire signals when searching for lost hikers. Three small fires set 75 feet apart in the shape of a triangle is a common signal. Or, you can set them in a straight line depending on your environment.

Audio Signals

Sound travels quickly and if you can make a lot of it that’s certainly going to help rescue crews locate you. Whistles, air horns and even gunshots can be heard from long distances. Alternatively, shouting can serve as a last-ditch effort.

Leave a Trail

Hikers should always pack a roll of lightweight survey tape to help leave a trail. Bright pink and blue are easily seen in most environments and can help indicate the direction in which you’ve traveled for rescue crews. Write “help” if you’re in trouble.