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Using a signal mirror 

A signal mirror for rescue purpose can be any of several different bright reflective surfaces. In a pinch you can use a mirror from a makeup  compact, a broken out piece of highly tinted glass, polished metal or even a CD disk. However the ones made specifically for rescue purpose usually or at least should have a hole on the center of it. Other have an aiming grid which will come with their own instructions. For your basic  mirror follow the instructions below to learn how to aim the mirror at a search party or aircraft.

Hold the mirror up to your eye and look through the hole or over the top of the mirror; outstretch you other arm and form a V with two fingers like a peace sign. Sight through the aiming hole or over the top of the mirror with the mirror reflection visible on the V. Carefully turn and tilt the mirror to move the V and the reflection toward the target. When you can see the target through the V in your finger and the reflected light is still aimed at the V you are then shining your signal at the target. Carefully lower the V (not the mirror reflection)  so that the target is centered between the fingertips and reflection continues to touch only the tip of the fingers for maximum signaling performance.

Do not be concerned about moving the mirror to create a flashing signal as just attempting to hold it on target you will be wavering enough to cause the flashing. 

An alternate method that works in a situation where you may have only one working arm and are using an improvised mirror, is to direct the reflection at the ground between yourself and the target. Then repeatedly tilt the mirror to cause the reflection to move up toward the target. Watch the progress of the reflection and you may be able to gage when it should pass over the target. Continue doing this until it is obvious the they have noticed you and are taking action.

However if the rescue party or even just members of your  party are close enough that you can see them but too far away  to talk to or on the other side of a river, you can use the mirror to send Morse Code. Most professional rescue personnel are versed in this simple form of communication or will at least recognize the SOS code. See our guide to Morse Code. In this case you should be able to see the reflection landing on them They will need a good pair of sunglasses to prevent being damage by the reflection or you can direct it to a spot near them (eg. a cliff face) once you have established contact with them. In this way you can communicate with them and convey any urgency that they need ti be aware of.  The universally recognized SOS is three dots , three dashes and three dots (... - - - ...) Where a dot is a signal of short duration and close together and a dash last or is held longer and are close together as are the dots. A longer pause between the sequence will indicate the start of a new letter so try and keep you intermediate blank space a consistently short space unless you intend to change letters. Just remember that there three letters in SOS and therefore three dots or dashes in the each letter. It is not really important to remember which applies to each letter., if you continue to alternate between groups of three dot and dashes it will appear as SOSOSOSOSOSOS or OSOSOSOS and the message will be deciphered.

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