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Wilderness & Navigation Life-saving
Signaling for Rescue
Help can't come if they can't find you. Make signals that stand out from nature: threes, straight lines, bright color, and motion.
What to do
- 1Use the rule of three: three whistle blasts, three fires in a triangle, three flashes.
- 2A signal mirror flash is visible for miles — aim it at aircraft and ridgelines.
- 3Lay out large ground-to-air symbols (V = need help, X = need medical) with contrasting material.
- 4Build signal fires with green boughs for white smoke by day; bright flame by night.
- 5Stay near a clearing where you can be seen from the air.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Shouting until you're hoarse (whistle carries far farther)
- Hiding under thick canopy
- Wandering away from your signals
Good to know
- Three of anything is the universal distress signal.
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