4 ms·

If you want, just remember that groups of three of anything are a distress signal. It's why smoke detectors beep in groups of threes for example. Groups of thre

If you want, just remember that groups of three of anything are a distress signal. It's why smoke detectors beep in groups of threes for example. Groups of three whistles indicate distress. Three flashes of light. Etc. Although I don't know how true this is, I've tried to keep to this in other interfaces, avoiding three-blink patters on lights when someone is not in trouble.

jfries 9y ago
Just don't panic when the cruise ship you're on signals that it is operating in reverse by sounding the horn three times.
- lb1lf 9y ago
  There is cause for concern when hearing seven short and one long blast, though. (General alarm; something has happened. Better head for the muster station to find out what...)
  - nasredin 9y ago
    From the recent El Faro sinking post here on HN: There's a General Alarm signal (above), but no Abandon Ship signal. The captain gives those manually. (I may be blatantly wrong!)
    - lb1lf 9y ago
      To the best of my knowledge (not a sailor, but my work has netted me several hundred days on vessels offshore), 'Abandon Ship' is always an explicit, verbal order from the captain (or whoever follows him in authority if he is incapacitated) The General Alarm typically calls for the crew to proceed (at haste!) to the muster station to be informed of the nature of the emergency and be put to work handling the situation. Luckily, I've only ever had to abandon ship during a couple of drills.
automatoney 9y ago
In lifeguard training I've gotten, 3 whistles is what you do to start emergency procedures.
emmelaich 9y ago
And the emergency button in your car is a triangle. And the sign on the inside of your trunk / boot is a triangle.
mondoshawan 9y ago
FYI, general distress flag code is two black flags, one square, one ball. OTOH, flailing your arms in the air is also recognized as general distress. Just be alert. The world needs more lerts.

jfries 9y ago

Just don't panic when the cruise ship you're on signals that it is operating in reverse by sounding the horn three times.

lb1lf 9y ago
There is cause for concern when hearing seven short and one long blast, though. (General alarm; something has happened. Better head for the muster station to find out what...)
- nasredin 9y ago
  From the recent El Faro sinking post here on HN: There's a General Alarm signal (above), but no Abandon Ship signal. The captain gives those manually. (I may be blatantly wrong!)
  - lb1lf 9y ago
    To the best of my knowledge (not a sailor, but my work has netted me several hundred days on vessels offshore), 'Abandon Ship' is always an explicit, verbal order from the captain (or whoever follows him in authority if he is incapacitated) The General Alarm typically calls for the crew to proceed (at haste!) to the muster station to be informed of the nature of the emergency and be put to work handling the situation. Luckily, I've only ever had to abandon ship during a couple of drills.

automatoney 9y ago

In lifeguard training I've gotten, 3 whistles is what you do to start emergency procedures.

emmelaich 9y ago

And the emergency button in your car is a triangle. And the sign on the inside of your trunk / boot is a triangle.

mondoshawan 9y ago

FYI, general distress flag code is two black flags, one square, one ball. OTOH, flailing your arms in the air is also recognized as general distress. Just be alert. The world needs more lerts.