This throwback come from the 1980 printing of the Ninth Edition Boy Scouts Handbook. Some of these may seem somewhat outdated… but remember that the battery on your phone or GPS devise will not last forever. Knowing these distress signals are a good backup to have.

Distress Signals

If you are ever completely lost, make your position known as soon as possible. The way to do this is by using some attention-getting device. This would be anything that would disturb the “natural” look or “natural” sound of the area.

• Fly a large flag of contrasting color — perhaps a blanket — from a tall tree.

• Set up the appropriate ground-to air signal

• Use the universal distress signal. This is some kind of signal repeated three times: Three shouts, three blasts of whistle or bugle, three gunshots, three columns of smoke.

• Sweep the horizon with a mirror or a bright can lid at often repeated periods during the day. On bright days the reflected light can be easily spotted by a plane. Even on hazy days it can be seen by aircraft.

• If in contact with someone, send the S O S Morse code distress call. Use a flag (short on a pole). Or send by interrupted light or sound: flashlight, lantern, mirror, bugle, whistle, spark coil, radio.