What is the international SOS signal?

SOS in Morse code is three short, three long, three short ( · · · — — — · · · ) sent as a single prosign with no internal letter gaps. Standardized by ITU-R M.1677-1. Signalfire transmits it on screen, LED flash, and 800 Hz audio simultaneously.

What is the Alpine distress signal?

The international alpine distress signal is six visual or audible signals per minute, followed by one minute of silence, repeated. The reply is three signals per minute. Used by UIAA and mountain rescue services worldwide.

What does V and X mean ground-to-air?

ICAO Annex 12 ground-to-air visual codes: V means 'require assistance', X means 'require medical assistance'. Display the symbol large and high-contrast against the ground for aircraft to read.

What is the international rescue whistle code?

Three short blasts means 'I need help'. One blast is 'where are you?', two blasts is 'come to me'. Repeat the 3-blast pattern with pauses until answered.

What emergency number works worldwide?

Dial 112 on any GSM phone — it routes to local emergency services in most countries and works even without a SIM card or active plan in Europe and many other regions. In the US/Canada use 911, UK also accepts 999, Australia 000, New Zealand 111.

Survival Guide — Emergency Signals & Numbers

Emergency Phone Numbers

Call only when you have signal. Numbers below are official emergency lines.

Worldwide GSM (any mobile)112
USA / Canada911
EU / UK / most of Europe112
UK (also)999
Australia000
New Zealand111
China (police / ambulance / fire)110 / 120 / 119
Japan (police / fire+amb)110 / 119
Iceland112
Norway (police / ambulance / fire)112 / 113 / 110
Sweden / Denmark / Finland112
Alpine Rescue (Europe)112
Mountain Rescue Switzerland (REGA)1414
Coast Guard USAVHF Ch 16

No signal? Try 112 anyway — most phones roam to any available network for emergency calls.

SOS (Morse)

· · · — — — · · ·

Universally recognized distress prosign (ITU-R M.1677-1). Send slowly and repeat. Effective by light, sound, torch, or whistle.

Alpine Distress — 6 per minute

Six signals per minute, one-minute pause, repeat. Acknowledgement from rescuers is three signals per minute.

Ground-to-Air Codes (ICAO)

V — Require assistance
X — Require medical assistance
N — No / negative
Y — Yes / affirmative
→ — Proceeding in this direction

Make symbols 2.5 m or larger, high contrast against the ground.

Whistle Signals

1 blast — Where are you?
2 blasts — Come to me
3 blasts — I need help / SOS