distress signal
Cry for rescue
A distress signal is any communication indicating that someone needs urgent help—a flare fired from a sinking ship, an SOS transmitted by radio, a waving flag from a stranded hiker.
The term extends to subtler cries for help: Her constant lateness was a distress signal we should have recognized.
Radio emergency signal
- pan-panIntermediate distress broadcast
- flareSudden bright burst
- flare gunDistress signal launcher
- radio beaconTransmitter broadcasting navigation signals
strobe light · whistle · airhorn · Morse code · heliograph
Radio emergency signal
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- immediateHappening without delay
- life-threateningRisking death
- direExtremely serious or urgent
imperative · time-sensitive · desperate · grave · perilous · code red · priority one · vital
Urgent warning signal
- sirenWailing alert device
- hornPointed animal headgear
- bellHollow resonating instrument
- flashBrief burst of light
klaxon · beacon · red flag · hazard light · warning shot · alert · broadcast · announcement
Emergency vessel for survivors
- shipwreckDestroyed vessel at sea
- castawayShipwrecked and stranded person
- maroonedLeft stranded and helpless
- adriftFloating without control
survivor · coastguard · lighthouse · buoy · foghorn · lightship · man overboard · abandon ship
Crisis response number
- emergency servicesUrgent public safety organizations
- first respondersPersonnel arriving at emergencies initially
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
code red · disaster response · triage · medevac · paramedics · ambulance · fire brigade · search and rescue
mayday
Radio emergency signal
radio beacon · strobe light · whistle · airhorn · Morse code · heliograph
mayday
Radio emergency signal
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- immediateHappening without delay
- life-threateningRisking death
dire · imperative · time-sensitive · desperate · grave · perilous · code red · priority one · vital · acute
alarm
Urgent warning signal
flash · klaxon · beacon · red flag · hazard light · warning shot · alert · broadcast · announcement · PA system
lifeboat
Emergency vessel for survivors
- shipwreckDestroyed vessel at sea
- castawayShipwrecked and stranded person
- maroonedLeft stranded and helpless
adrift · survivor · coastguard · lighthouse · buoy · foghorn · lightship · man overboard · abandon ship · life raft
911
Crisis response number
- emergency servicesUrgent public safety organizations
- first respondersPersonnel arriving at emergencies initially
- evacuationRemoval from danger
crisis · code red · disaster response · triage · medevac · paramedics · ambulance · fire brigade · search and rescue · helicopter
- anti-piracynaval patrol, naval patrols, escort mission, hostage rescue, warships
- lifesavinglifeboat, life belt, life ring, surf boat, rescue boat
- soundssound, beeps, listen, sounds, hear
- emergency responsefirst responders, emergency services, fire alarm, 911, call 911
- TitanicTitanic, RMS Titanic, iceberg, sinking, lifeboats
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
distress signalall clear
Signal danger has passed
casual conversation · status report · check-in · standard transmission · greeting
distress signalthumbs up
Gesture signaling approval
green light · stand down · mission accomplished · clearance · roger that
distress signalall clear
Signal danger has passed
stand down · casual conversation · check-in · business as usual · green light
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