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Survival Options:
SOS Distress Signals

Sometimes survival depends on SOS – an international distress signal. The letters don't stand for anything in particular, such as "Save Our Ship" or "Save Our Souls." In Morse Code, the letters "SOS" simply create an unmistakable sound pattern: three short - three long - three short - pause - repeat (· · · – – – · · ·), and they're easy to remember.

If you use a car's horn (or something similar), it'd be three short blasts, three long blasts, three short blasts - pause - repeat. If you use taps or bangs (such as through a wall or whatever), it'd be three quick taps, three slow taps, three quick taps - pause - repeat.

The term "SOS" is now often used to refer to all distress signals with or without Morse Code and vary depending upon where you are.

Variations of SOS DISTRESS SIGNALS

• Sailors use whistle blasts or light flashes to send Morse Code SOS distress signals.
• Campers send three puffs of smoke or lay out markers in a triangle to signal a search plane.
• Hunters fire three gunshots.
• Mountain climbers use six long whistle blasts or light flashes, repeated at one-minute intervals.
• Airplane pilots send a “Mayday! Mayday!" radio message which is more distinctive vocally than "SOS."

Other DISTRESS SIGNALS

• If you're choking on food, you should summon help from bystanders by grasping your throat. If you're alone, perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself by placing your fist just above your navel and fall onto a tabletop (or something similar); your fist will push forcefully into your diaphragm and force air out of your lungs – thereby blowing out the food lodged in your throat. It may have to be repeated multiple times to succeed.
• Drivers with a CB radio call for help on either channel 9 or 19. Since you can use your voice over the radio rather than blasts or taps, you can simply just say the letters "SOS!" or "Mayday!" (or "Help!") repeatedly.
• Call the police or fire department or ambulance, of course. See 911 Calls.
• If you're attacked in a populated area (where somebody helpful can hear you) yell, "Help! Police!" (see Kitty Genovese - Article Bank).

How can a kidnap victim QUIETLY summon help without alerting her kidnapper – or summon help when window-glass muffles her shouts? Not by waving – that looks like she’s merely saying “Hello.” Better to draw an outstretched hand toward her chest, as in the “Come here” gesture, or intertwine her fingers and clasp her hands together in a pleading/praying gesture. A frantic facial expression helps drive the message.

An international distress signal for greater distances is to slowly raise and lower her outstretched arms (on each side) repeatedly – her hands describing a large circle.

Worst-Case Scenarios:
Crime Prevention Tips for Victims of Violent Crimes & Personal Safety Devices

• Survival Options - Overview of the do-or-die realities of worst-case crises.
• Shooting Rampage: seven options for surviving.
• Hostage Taking: the slightest edge makes all the difference.
• Hostage Escape: optimizing hostage survival and escape.
• Kidnapping avoidance and prevention.
• Kidnap Escape: optimizing kidnap survival and escape.
• SOS Distress Signals (YOU’RE NOW ON THIS PAGE) for summoning help in all situations.
• Surviving the Worst: options for the worst of the worst-case scenarios.
• Recap of this section.
• Personal Safety Devices

Enhancing Your Options
Pepper Spray & a Noisemaker (see Security Products - Personal Devices) visibly ready will greatly enhance your first option – Victims Options - Posturing as a tough target – and probably deter a predator immediately. Your fifth option – Victims Options - Fighting – is enhanced as well.

For convenience, learn self-defense ONLINE:

kravmagatv.com

KRAV MAGA, a practical self-defense system used by many police forces worldwide, teaches you to defend yourself, enhances your survival instinct, and can be applied under extreme stress. It's not flashy, just very effective. I highly recommend it. The Krav Maga TV - Online Training videos are especially convenient to learn at home when your schedule allows or if you don't live near a training center.

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