Let’s say you notice an aircraft above you, but you have absolutely no tools to signal for help. Three plumes of smoke signal for an emergency, aka “SOS.” To control the plumes of smoke, use a wet blanket to throw over the fire. Two plumes of smoke mean that everything is fine within the campsite. Releasing one plume of smoke translates to “Look here!” It’s usually not a signal for an emergency but rather to get someone’s attention. If you become lost while mountaineering, don't fret! Just use one of these signals to catch someone's attention from far away.įor smoke signals to be effective, you’re going to need to climb up to the highest altitude possible, as it greatly increases your chance of being spotted. Here's how to signal SOS, wherever you're stranded. Whatever the reason, SOS has stuck around, but there are more ways to signal that your soul needs saving.

S is translated as three dots, and O is translated as three dashes, leaving very little room for confusion. Perhaps SOS was chosen for how simple it was to transmit via Morse code. Although a lot of people presume SOS stands for Save Our Souls or Save Our Ship, these are backronyms, and the letters have no true meaning.

What does sos mean