What signaling or flare procedures are used to indicate distress?

• A. Use MAYDAY on VHF 16 for distress; deploy approved distress flares per policy when required.
• B. Use a flashlight Morse code only.
• C. Shout for help without radio or flares.
• D. Play loud music to attract attention.

Answer: (A)

In distress situations, you want to use signals that are universally recognized and reliably noticed by rescuers. The standard approach is to issue a MAYDAY call on VHF channel 16 to broadcast an urgent distress message that alerts nearby vessels and authorities. This radio signal quickly communicates that you are in imminent danger and need immediate assistance, and it should be followed by a switch to a working channel to relay your exact location, the nature of the emergency, and how many people are on board. At the same time, you deploy approved distress flares as required by policy to provide a visible, land- or sea-based signal that rescuers can spot, especially if you’re in an area where visual signals can help pinpoint your position. Together, radio distress signaling and visual flares give responders both rapid verbal information and a clear visual indication of your location.

Using a flashlight Morse code can be helpful in some situations, but it isn’t a standard, universally recognized distress signal and is limited by visibility and distance. Shouting for help without radio or flares relies on luck and line-of-sight, which is often ineffective at sea. Playing loud music to attract attention is not a recognized or reliable distress signal and can be ignored or misunderstood.