The spoken word "Mayday". There is a specific format for a distress message. The mnemonic is M.I.P.D.A.N.I.O and it goes like this:
M - Mayday (repeated thrice)
I - Identification (name and number of craft)
P - Position (latitude and longitude and/or geographic location)
D - Distress (nature of distress e.g. sinking, fire, etc)
A - Assistance required
N- Number of persons onboard
I- Information (other pertinent information)
O- Over
http://www.mcaorals.co.uk/Distress.htm
S.o.s
sos
Mayday
The first SOS distress signal was transmitted by the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, during its sinking after hitting an iceberg. The ship's radio operators sent out the distress signal to alert nearby vessels for help. The SOS signal, which consists of three dots, three dashes, and three dots, was later adopted as the international standard for maritime distress calls.
SOS can be defined as the commonly used description for the international Morse code distress signal. This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio German regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard under the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention, which was signed on November 3, 1906 and became effective on July 1, 1908. SOS remained the maritime radio distress signal until 1999, when it was replaced by the Global Maritime Distress Safety System. SOS is still recognized as a visual distress signal.
The safety and distress calling signal is a standardized method used to indicate that a vessel or individual is in urgent need of assistance. The most recognized signal is the SOS distress signal, which can be communicated through Morse code (· · · — — — · · ·) or visually using lights or flags. Other signals include the use of flares, the international distress signal (a square flag with a ball or a ball above a square), and radio distress calls on emergency frequencies. These signals are crucial for alerting nearby vessels and rescue services to a life-threatening situation.
The flag used to indicate distress is the International Code Signal flag "N" (November), which is a square flag with a white and blue checkered pattern. Additionally, the widely recognized signal for distress is the International Distress Signal, which can be represented by a flag or by the use of other signals such as flares or sound signals. In maritime contexts, the "N" flag signifies that a vessel is in need of assistance.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
SOS, the international Morse code distress signal, is a palindrome.
1. SOS 2. MAYDAY (from the French`M`aider `- Help me
The abbreviation for a distress signal is DS or SOS.
Brian found the radio in the survival pack that was left in the plane wreckage. He was able to use the radio to send out a distress signal and eventually be rescued.