distress calls
Pleas for help
Distress calls are signals for help when someone is in serious danger or trouble.
Ships use SOS, aircraft transmit mayday—standardized calls that cut through routine communication to demand immediate response.
The term extends to any urgent plea: The charity sent out distress calls when funding dried up.
Animals also make distress calls—vocalizations that alert others to predators or injury.
- shipwreckDestroyed vessel at sea
- radio transmissionWireless electromagnetic signal
- SOSMorse distress code
- animal communicationNon-human information exchange
- maydayRadio emergency signal
rescue operation · flare gun · emergency beacon · warning signals · Morse code · medical emergency · 911 call · emergency services · whistle · VHF radio · helicopter rescue · air horn · satellite phone · call · natural disaster · wail · alert · cry for help
- seafaringship, sailors, ships, sail, sailor
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, whale song, wolf howl
- rescuerescue, rescue team, search and rescue, rescue dog, save
- seamanshipseamanship, steering, anchoring, navigation, chartwork
- telegraphytelegraph, Morse code, telegraphy, telegraph key, telegraph line
- bird deterrentsscarecrow, bird spikes, bird netting, bird net, owl decoy