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There is no single official list of “the five” distress signals. These five examples come from different situations: one is a discreet request for someone to check in, while the others are formal or practical ways to seek immediate help. They are not interchangeable. If someone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services when it is safe to do so.
1. Signal for Help: a discreet request for a safe check-in
The Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Signal for Help is made by showing an open palm, tucking the thumb into the palm, then closing the fingers over the thumb. It was created as a way for someone experiencing gender-based violence to tell another person they need a safe check-in. The Foundation says Deaf community members were consulted in its development. It is a campaign-created signal—not a sign-language word or a guarantee that every observer will recognize it.
Seeing the gesture does not automatically mean the person wants police called. If you can, make contact in a way that does not put them at greater risk: listen, ask what they need, and avoid drawing attention to the gesture. If immediate danger is apparent, contact 911 or local emergency services. The Foundation says the campaign launched in April 2020 amid increased risk of gender-based violence and increased video-call use during COVID-19 home isolation. Canadian Women’s Foundation: Signal For Help.
2. SOS: a coded distress signal
SOS is recognized in Morse code as a distress signal in the maritime rules cited here. In that context, it indicates distress and a need for assistance. The relevant convention restricts listed distress signals to genuine distress; do not use or demonstrate them in a way that could be mistaken for an emergency. The rules list SOS alongside other maritime distress signals, but the exact method of transmitting a signal depends on the equipment and situation. Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Annex IV.
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3. MAYDAY: a spoken radio call for immediate help
MAYDAY is the radiotelephony distress signal for grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. In European aviation rules, the distress message identifies the aircraft, describes the distress, states the pilot’s intention, and gives position, level, and heading when possible. EASA Easy Access Rules for Standardised European Rules of the Air, revision August 2025.
Maritime radio: include the information rescuers need
For a vessel using the U.S. Coast Guard’s instructions, the procedure is to use VHF-FM Channel 16, clearly say “MAYDAY MAYDAY,” then provide the vessel’s identification or description, location, nature of the emergency, and number of people aboard. The Canadian Coast Guard’s 2026 radio guide also calls for position, nature of distress, kind of assistance needed, and other useful rescue information. Channel 16 is a maritime instruction, not a universal emergency frequency for land or aviation. Follow the applicable local and equipment-specific procedure. Canadian Coast Guard, Radio Aids to Marine Navigation 2026, Part 4.
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MAYDAY versus PAN PAN
MAYDAY is for distress requiring immediate assistance. PAN PAN is an urgency signal for a very urgent message concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, other vehicle, or person; it does not carry the same immediate-assistance meaning. The Canadian Coast Guard’s radio guide distinguishes the two. Canadian Coast Guard, Radio Aids to Marine Navigation 2026, Part 4.
4. Visual distress signals: flares, smoke, or arm motion
Maritime rules list red flares, orange smoke, and slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering outstretched arms among signals indicating distress and a need for assistance. These can matter when speech or a phone is not practical, but their usefulness depends on visibility, location, equipment, and whether a responder can see them. A flare or other listed distress signal should never be used casually or as a demonstration where it could be mistaken for a real emergency. Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Annex IV.
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5. Personal locator beacon: alerting rescuers in remote areas
A 406 MHz personal locator beacon (PLB) is one option Public Safety Canada identifies for alerting search-and-rescue teams during remote-area travel in Canada. Satellite messengers and cell phones may also help where service is available. A PLB is a preparedness tool for suitable remote settings, not a universal solution for every emergency. Check the registration and activation instructions for the specific device and its intended use. The U.S. Coast Guard also lists SARSAT beacons—including PLBs, EPIRBs, and ELTs—as alerting methods. Public Safety Canada: Distress Alerting; U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: SARSAT contact information.
Do not assume that 911 is available from every satellite phone or in every cellular or landline region. Public Safety Canada advises that direct rescue-authority numbers may be needed in some locations. Before a trip, understand what alerting options work where you are going and how to use them.
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Choose a signal for the situation
| Situation | Signal or method | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Discreet contact with a nearby observer or on a video call | Signal for Help | It asks for a safe check-in; the observer should not assume the person wants authorities called. |
| Maritime radio distress | MAYDAY | Use the applicable radio procedure and communicate position, emergency, and assistance needed. |
| Visible signaling | Red flare, orange smoke, or repeated arm movement | Visibility and a responder’s ability to see the signal matter; use distress signals only for genuine distress. |
| Remote-area alerting | PLB or satellite messenger | Availability and use depend on the device, location, and preparation. |
| Cellular access | Local emergency number | Service and emergency-call availability vary by location. |
The Canadian Women’s Foundation reports that two in five people in Canada know about the Signal for Help and one in ten have used or seen it; its cited campaign page does not state the survey year or methodology. The Foundation also reports that the signal has been shared in nearly 50 countries and 20 languages, without specifying a measurement date or methodology. Those figures describe reported awareness and reach, not lives saved. Canadian Women’s Foundation: Signal For Help.
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