Which signal indicates to survivors that help is on the way?

The orange smoke signal is used as a distress signaling method during search and rescue operations. When a survivor activates an orange smoke signal, it creates a highly visible cloud of orange smoke that can be easily spotted from the air or sea. This is particularly effective in alerting rescuers that assistance is needed. The bright color of the smoke contrasts sharply with most natural backgrounds, making it an effective visual indicator.

In survival situations, the use of orange smoke signals is specifically intended to communicate a need for help, as opposed to other signals that may not had the same established recognition for rescue operations. While a green flare might signal that a situation is clear, a red flag typically denotes danger but does not specifically indicate help is on the way. Similarly, a blue flashing light is often used for law enforcement purposes rather than distress signals in a survival context. Therefore, the orange smoke signal stands out as the universal sign that indicates immediate assistance is on the way.