There is a general misunderstanding of what survival communication is versus survival noise. When I think of communication, I think of signaling. That is, I am referring to a message being conveyed clearly. When I think of survival noise, I think of another form of communication but one that can be interpreted in many different ways. Survival communication always looks so simple in the movies and in popular culture. A survivalist lights a fire, throws on some greens for white smoke, and the help arrives promptly. Instead of building on misinformation, I want to highlight some of the important details that are often left out of survival communication discussions. One of the most important details is something we can literally work on every day if we’re willing to.
Two Types:Audible and Visual
Whether we’re talking about smoke signals, a flash from a mirror, or even a radio mic click, we can categorize survival communication in the form of either audible or visual methods It is wise to pack at least one of each method with you and the least expensive although not most effective is a signal mirror and whistle combo. In the thick woods, you’ll probably be better served with a whistle. In wide-open spaces like the mountains, a mirror will have greater reach than even the strongest whistle. Assuming one is none and two is one, you’ll want to think about alternate methods of both types of signal. A second whistle with a different pitch, a flare, and a flashlight all make excellent alternate options. Think about low-tech options in your survival communications plan too. Even the combination of a Sharpie marker and some surveyor’s tape can help direct someone to your location. Taking a step back even further is the idea of leaving a note behind if you must be mobile. We don’t often think of notes as visual signals but they are and you should always have a basic pad and pen/pencil handy for scribing notes. If you’re using a reflective or sound-emitting device, you can decide if you want to follow a pattern like “S.O.S.” consisting of three short, three long, three short flashes/sounds or if you want to use your signal as frequently as conditions or your strength will allow.
What’s the Scenario?
No discussion about survival communication is complete without discussing the scenario in which the event is taking place. For some, a survival scenario is being stranded in their vehicle on the side of the road. For others, a survival scenario is like those in the movies where a survivor is walking around the wreckage of a downed plane. Other survival scenarios play out like the graphic images found in the novel “The Road” where the survivor must make it from point A to point B without being detected and caught. All of these scenarios are different and they all call for a different type of survival communication. Whenever possible, baseline communication you are most familiar with is utilized first. This could be a cellular phone or text-messaging device. When that fails, emergency methods are employed. Communication can vary in these survival scenarios from the affected person to the rest of the world. Depending on the equipment you have available, you can use broken-down inexpensive radios that operate on the amateur radio network. In an emergency, you need not worry about licensing. In other scenarios, a simple code, like the hobo code, can be written on walls to represent safe places to sleep or a location of resources. If you’re not familiar with the hobo code it is fascinating. If you don’t fancy yourself a homeless vagabond, you can learn from the various trail markers found on miles of broken trails around the country. Cairns (pronounced “Karens”) indicate where trails can be found in alpine areas. While some might not consider walking off a trail a survival scenario, plenty of lost hikers in white-out conditions would disagree.
If Not You, Then Who?
In teaching survival seminars, I have fun posing questions to my students and attendees. One of the common questions that come up that can be applied to so many survival topics is ‘if not you, then who?” This is commonly brought up when discussing self-defense and some students have said they “will just call the police.” The reason I’m bringing this question up in a blog about survival communication is that there is someone you imagine being on the other end of your emergency signal. It is easy to assume a person hearing a whistle blast or seeing a flashing light will know it is an emergency. Keep in mind, people don’t like to be bothered. We quickly dismiss windows that pop up on our browsers and we are generally fixated on our electronic devices. Additionally, many people wear headphones or listen to music in their vehicle that will drown out calls for help. I’m sure there are folks out there who would believe a flashing light or a whistle is just some punk kid causing trouble.
How many times have you driven by a car accident and thought, “someone else will stop” or perhaps, “911 must have already been called?” This concept of assuming someone else will do your work is known in psychology circles as the bystander effect. This happens regularly enough for it to be an actual phenomenon. You can’t assume because you reached a single person, your call will be answered. With this in mind, you must think about how you can multiply your signaling efforts to communicate out to the greatest number. Think about the implications of this statement. In so many survival books, including my own, there is a reference to creating ground signals in the form of an arrow, “S.O.S” or even an “X”. The only people who will see these are pilots as they are not visible from the ground. Now, if a ground signal is used in conjunction with a large smoke generator, there is a chance pilots will see the signal but so will those in the surrounding area who may be on foot or in wheeled vehicles. Here’s another fun fact I just have to throw into this piece. Keep in mind, airplanes don’t have rearview mirrors. You may believe you signaled help by flashing a plane but if it is angled away from you, you’re not signaling anyone.
Hi-Tech Options
Each week, when I solicit questions for my podcast called “Coffee and Questions”, I’ll invariably receive at least one question about satellite phones, satellite text-messaging tools, and or HAM Radios. These questions generally relate to what is best and to that I don’t have one opinion over another. I’ll simply say this here, they are excellent survival communication methods but they are not foolproof. Compared to a simple note written on a piece of Rite-In-Rain paper, these devices are battery-operated, electronic, and generally not friends with moisture. Regardless, they are excellent options when they do work. As mentioned earlier in this blog, there is a difference between signal and noise. All the options mentioned so far have been ways to send survival communication messages but they don’t send signals in a format used by most in our daily conversations. Spoken or written word is more easily understood than a plume of smoke or a series of flashes. As long as you can power on these devices and learn how to operate them, you can communicate without having to expend a lot of energy. Again, this is all contingent upon certain factors. You must have fresh batteries. You must be in the operating range of your device if there is one. Your device must not be broken. There is also the factor of cost and accessibility. These options are generally more expensive than the most costly mirror or whistle. They may not be easily sourced from local markets while traveling and they are definitely not easy for the average person to make from salvaged materials. These methods are very effective when they work and they must be treated with care like a true lifeline. With HAM radios, there is special licensing required if you decide to use it for non-emergency communication but keep in mind, there is no such thing as a special license if your life's on the line. I know plenty of people that keep a disassembled (radio, antenna, battery pack) radio, like the Baofeng UV-5R) in the center console of their vehicle. If they need to communicate in an emergency, no one will be fined for unauthorized transmission.
At Home and Abroad
To this point in this blog, I have referred to survival communication methods that work in the wilderness. Even if you spend each weekend in the woods for a single year, that is only slightly more than a quarter of the year (28.49 percent actually). An important consideration is survival communication for your home. Your home is where you’ll likely spend the vast majority of your life. Your home is also where you are supposed to be at your strongest with the most abundance of supplies and a network around you. This network is what builds on your individual readiness and with some coordination, your network from your neighborhood can expand your survivability. All of this stems from communicating about your collective survival plans.
If you were wise, you created allies or assets in your community by building relationships with your neighbors. Word travels quickly in a neighborhood in normal times as well as in emergencies. We may laugh at the idea of a “runner”, the pony express, or Paul Revere’s ride but remember low tech is sometimes one of the best ways to ensure a message gets to the intended recipient in its entirety. Neighbors can come up with all sorts of creative ways to communicate in an emergency or when they’re told to stay home. If you recall, during the pandemic, plenty of Americans were at their wit’s end because they were told to stay inside. Over time, this leads to social distancing and eventually limited exposure. We’re not meant to be anti-social and communication is absolutely essential to our well-being. In this way, daily conversations with our neighbors can build the survival community we need in times we need to rely on one another.
If you’ve made it through this installment of the Fieldcraft Survival blog, you probably noticed I didn’t focus too heavily on any one particular type of survival communication method. There are many and it is in your best interest to learn them all. I’m sure there are many readers of this blog who believe they can survive whatever life throws at them on their own but the lone wolf approach is less effective than relying on a tribe. Communicate with your tribe before an emergency and practice your responses to that emergency. Reconsider what you classify as a survival and emergency scenario and learn to keep your communication going regardless of the circumstances.