Hey, guys how is it going? Today, I’m going to discuss the importance of keeping a signal mirror in your survival kit. Also, I’ll go over your different options when it comes to picking out of mirror and I’ll demonstrate how they work and how to use them properly.
A signal mirror is basically a tool use to signal your potential rescuers by using sunlight and a reflective surface. Most signal mirrors can be seen from 50 miles away which is really far. There have been documented cases where people have been rescued using a signal mirror from over a 100 miles away.
Also, mirrors don’t use batteries obviously and that’s pretty good considering that you can communicate with the potential rescuer from up to 50 miles away. You can’t do that with a whistle. You can’t do that with a lot of signaling devices, so this is a great option for signaling for your rescue.
Signal mirrors are petty cheap, this one probably my best one that I keep in my survival kit. They are cheap this one being around $10.00. This one is just a piece of metal it was only a dollar. Also you can improvise different reflection signaling devices and I’ll show you some of those options in a bit.
Our downside to signal mirrors are—you need some pretty intense sunlight. It can’t be too cloudy and you pretty much can only use them in the daytime. These are some of your different options of signal mirrors. This one is just a piece of sheet metal shiny sheet metal that I added a linear to it with 550 cord, and this is just Camp Mare that you can get in camping stores.
It was like a buck and it’s very effective signal mirror. This is just a cap that came up with one of those little five function mats containers. I think everyone knows what they are that little pieces of craft, but I just keep this part of my survival kit. It has the little mirror and a compass.
And this is probably your best option when it comes to signal mirrors and the reason for that is because this one has a siding hole right here which I’ll explain later when I show you how to use it. This one is a glass so I guess it could break but it seems pretty strong. It’s two layers. Also, it has directions on the back and what about this side I’d say it’s probably 3 x 2 inches. One like this is probably your best bet.
Also, if you find yourself in a situation where you’re unprepared and you need to signal to somebody you can improvise the signaling device. One example is the Zippo. It’s very bright. Also, a non-coded knife blade a shiny knife blade can definitely signal with that and a compact disc it makes a great signal mirror.
Actually I know people who use these, they don’t even buy one they just use these in their survival kit and it’s actually a good option because it’s thin, it doesn’t break easily and it’s pretty much got a siding hole not as good as this one because I’ll explain that in a second, but again this is not a bad option especially if you’re on a budget.
Also, you could use a shiny parts of cans. If a girl has a compact make up case with a mirror on it you could definitely use that. Almost anything that’s really shiny you can use to signal a potential rescuer.
When you use your signal mirror in the wilderness, the best to do is signal with three flashes. Three being the international distress signal. Three of anything communicates to someone that you need help. Three whistle blows, SOS is three sets of three. You could light three fires in a row. Anything of three indicates that you need help.
There are different places you can use a signal mirror to signal too. Probably one of the main ones that you’ll be signal too is any kind of aircraft, an airplane or a helicopter or something. If a pilot sees flashing in the wilderness where there is no houses or anything, they’re going to know it’s people there because there’s nothing in nature that would be that shiny especially if it’s moving, so that’s why it’s so effective.
Also, you might want to scan the horizon, hills where you think there might be people. Even if you don’t know that there are people there. There could be.
Now, I’m going to demonstrate how to properly use the different kinds of signal mirrors. For the purposes of this video the sunlight is going to be the light I have mounted on my tripod because where I am right now it’s dark out. So, that’s what we’re going to do.
The first one I’m going to show you is the good one that I keep in my survival kit. This one has the aiming hole in the center of it. So, what you need to do is get into direct sunlight and you’re going to be reflecting the sun’s light to your target and to do that you need to look through the hole and I’ll show you. That’s green material is reflective material so it gives you something to aim with.
When you look through that hole what you see is a small ball of light and that’s what you use to aim on your target and wherever that ball of light hits your target that’s where the flash of light goes, so basically you just look through it. You see the little ball of light and you can signal to your rescuer. Remember, in sets of three if you can.
The next way I’m going to show you applies to improvised signal mirrors and mirrors that don’t have a siding hole. The way you aim is you hold up to your fingers to one eye whichever eye, use your dominant eye and in the middle of the two fingers you put your target and you take the mirror behind your two fingers like so and aim right at your target and flash it like so. And that will apply to the knife, that will apply to the CD anything improvise, anything without a siding hole and that’s basically the different ways you would use a signal mirror.
In my opinion, a signal mirror is a must have item in the survival kit or a 72 hour kit or in any situation where you might think you need to signal someone for help. Also, I would recommend buying the good signal mirror that has the reflective siding hole in the middle. It’s just a lot easier to use. It’s got the directions on the back and for about 10 bucks it’s a great way to signal for help.
And so that’s basically it for today. Thanks a lot for watching and I just want to say I appreciate all the comments and subscriptions I’ve been getting. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions and thanks a lot guys, bye.
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