Req 8a4 — Emergency Calls

In a genuine emergency, amateur radio operators are authorized to use any frequency and any mode necessary to call for help — normal rules about band privileges are suspended when life or property is in immediate danger.

Voice Emergency Call

The international radiotelephone distress signal is “MAYDAY” (from the French m’aider — “help me”). For situations that are urgent but not immediately life-threatening, use “PAN-PAN” (from the French panne — “breakdown”).

How to Make a MAYDAY Call

1. Tune to a commonly monitored frequency:
   • 146.520 MHz — the national 2-meter FM simplex calling frequency
   • 7.030 MHz or 14.300 MHz — HF voice emergency frequencies
   • Any active repeater frequency in your area
2. Transmit: “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. This is [your call sign], [your call sign], [your call sign].”
3. Give your location (as precisely as possible — coordinates, landmarks, or nearest town).
4. Describe the nature of the emergency (injury, fire, lost, etc.).
5. State what help you need (ambulance, rescue, relay to 911).
6. Give the number of people involved and their condition.
7. Say “Over” and listen for a response.
8. If no response, repeat on another frequency.

Morse Code Emergency Signal

The international distress signal in CW is SOS: three dots, three dashes, three dots, sent as a single character with no spacing between the letters.

· · · — — — · · ·

Send SOS repeatedly, followed by your call sign and location information. On HF, 7.030 MHz is a common CW calling frequency.