What does the Coast Guard use to signify an emergency on the water?

The Coast Guard uses a distress signal to signify an emergency on the water as it communicates the need for immediate assistance. Distress signals are universally recognized indicators that a vessel or individual is in danger and requires urgent help. These signals can include audible signals like horn blasts, visual signals such as flares, or international flags that denote distress.

Specifically, the distress signal is critical because it is standardized under international maritime regulations, ensuring that all mariners can understand its meaning regardless of the language they speak. This is essential for effective response during emergencies, helping to prompt swift action from nearby vessels and rescue services.

While safety signals, warning signals, and alert signals may indicate a variety of situations on the water, they do not carry the same level of urgency or specific connotation of emergency that the distress signal does. Each of these other signals serves a different purpose and may not communicate the immediate need for assistance that a distress signal conveys.