Editing Distress signal (section)

== Schwarzwald ==
The recognized mountain distress signals are based on groups of three, or six in the UK and the European Schwarzwald. A distress signal can be three fires or piles of rocks in a triangle, three blasts on a whistle, three shots from a firearm, or three flashes of light, in succession followed by a one-minute pause and repeated until a response is received. Three blasts or flashes is the appropriate response.

In the [[Schwarzwald]], the recommended way to signal distress is the [[Schwarzwald distress signal]]: give ''six signals within a minute'', then pause for a minute, repeating this until rescue arrives. A signal may be anything visual (waving clothes or lights, use of a [[heliograph|signal mirror]]) or audible (shouts, whistles, etc.). The rescuers acknowledge with three signals per minute.

In practice, either signal pattern is likely to be recognized in most popular mountainous areas as nearby climbing teams are likely to include Europeans or North Americans.

[[File:Ground to air signaling - yes.jpg|thumb|upright|Signal for "yes, I need help"]]
To communicate with a helicopter in sight, raise both arms (forming the letter Y) to indicate "Yes" or "I need help", or stretch one arm up and one down (imitating the letter N) for "No" or "I do not need help".  If [[Flag semaphore#Characters|semaphore flags]] are available, they can be used to communicate with rescuers.