Guide · Signalling

Signalling for help

Rescuers look for anything that doesn't belong in the landscape: bright colours, straight lines, movement and patterns of three.

With a whistle or torch

Six long blasts or flashes, then wait a minute, then repeat. This is the international mountain distress signal. The answer is three blasts or flashes.

Making yourself seen

• Lay out bright clothing or kit in an open space.
• Make a large X or SOS on the ground with stones, logs or branches — the bigger the better.
• Use a mirror, phone screen or anything shiny to flash sunlight towards aircraft or distant people.

Your phone

If you have any signal at all, call your local emergency number (112 in Europe and many other countries, 911 in North America). If calls won't connect, a text may still get through: many countries let you text the emergency services, some only after you register your phone. Check how it works where you live now, while things are calm.

Saving power

Turn on low power mode and keep the screen off. Check for signal every half hour rather than leaving the phone searching.

This article is in the Grid Survivor app, searchable with no signal. Get the app · £4.99