What Are Signal Flares?
Parachute, hand-held and smoke pyrotechnics — the last layer that still delivers that 'they've seen me' moment, even in the electronic age.
Signal flares are the pyrotechnics that solve the 'last mile' even in the electronic age: when the rescue unit arrives, they help them pick you out among the waves. EPIRB and DSC call for help; flares show your position.
The table below sets out the types and when they are used.
Signal flare types
Type | When to use |
|---|---|
Parachute flare | When there is someone on the horizon (it rises hundreds of metres and can be seen for kilometres at night) |
Hand flare | Gives the approaching rescuer your exact position |
Smoke canister | By day, especially for helicopters |
Launching a parachute flare into empty sea is a waste; that is the logic behind the order of use. Knowing the wind direction is vital: every pyrotechnic must be used downwind, held away from the body, and never lit with a lighter.
The most common problem is finding the set forgotten in a damp locker; it is a standard item on the annual checklist, and expired items are not thrown overboard but handed in to the relevant authorities. Modern complements (LED electronic flares) can be carried alongside pyrotechnics, not instead of them.