SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/scout-signal-mirror

On a clear day, about how far away can a signal mirror flash be seen?

Up to about 100 miles.

  1. Up to about 100 miles ✔
  2. About 100 feet
  3. About 1 mile

Why: A mirror reflects sunlight that pilots can spot from very far away, and it never runs out of battery. Aim it through a V made with your fingers toward a plane.

Huh, didn't know that: Any shiny thing works in a pinch, like a can lid or foil.

The dad joke
Why did the mirror get the rescue job? It reflected well on everyone.
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Sources

  1. Scout Life (Scouting America): Lost in the Woods! Now What? https://scoutlife.org/outdoors/1200/trail-tips-lost-in-the-woods/
  2. National Park Service: Outdoor Emergency Plan https://www.nps.gov/subjects/healthandsafety/upload/NPS-Outdoor-Emergency-Plan-508c.pdf

Test yourself in the game

Outdoors & CampingLost and waiting for help, how should you use a whistle?Outdoors & CampingHow do you flash SOS with a flashlight?Outdoors & CampingLost in daytime with a safe place for a signal fire, what makes it easier to spot?

That's stuff everyone should know.