Flares.

[Pattree]

I’ve just found an old pouch that used to contain flares.

We’ve seen a discussion about carrying tourniquets in case of extreme crisis. I’m not sure that anyone has used one in other than a military scenario. The same might be said of flares.

Does anyone still carry smoke/flares either on the mountain or at sea?

 

[Toddy]

I don't, but funnily enough, we found a couple when clearing out my brother's loft not long since.

I have them in a covered metal bucket, and no clue what to do with them.

 

[Chris]

I don't carry either on the mountain, though I understand they're a legal requirement for vessels above a certain size and commercial vessels at sea.

 

[Glow_worm]

There is a lot of debate amongst salt water boaty types about flares vs new fangled LED distress devices.

Flares are a pain, with their cost, a limited life, storage issues, disposal issues. But in some scenarios at sea they have proved critical in saving lives according to rescuers, who have been doubtful whether LED devices would have been enough.

Tons of arguement and cases for and against online if you're ever bored enough.

 

[Bhod]

I don't, but funnily enough, we found a couple when clearing out my brother's loft not long since.

I have them in a covered metal bucket, and no clue what to do with them.

You can drop them in at your local Police station for disposal.

 

[stonepark]

My take on it....

For ground to ground or water to water:-

Mini flares (16mm and smaller) v's LED, Lasers, LEP and Signal mirror for local signaling are for probably equal in visual effects and ranges but require different deployment methods.

Mid Sizes for , (flare guns 18mm to 37mm), in daylight flares as large smoke ball is visible and start to take the lead, but at night other methods are still equally valid.

Large flares (carried on commercial sea going vessels) are a different matter, where they give long range visibility, 1000ft height (300m) gives 47mile (60KM) distance for a sustained period if parachute type flares and certainly during day light but also at night are more effective.

For ground (or water) to air,

Lasers and LEP torches have similar if not greater visibility than flares at night, indeed if I can see an aircrafts lights, a Laser or LEP can put a light on the aircraft and would be similarly or more visible.

Not including some UV lasers and IR lasers can be used to signal military aircraft (and search and recue which use IR cameras), though you might get a bit more attention than intended.

 

[TeeDee]

What are the 'rules' for obtaining flares? Parachute flares? I assume one can walk into a Chandlers and purchase but are there any requirements beyond age?

 

[Glow_worm]

There isn't even an age requirement for distress flares. But then there are no age restrictions for being in command of any seagoing vessel, an 8-year old could captain a 70-foot workboat or a race prepared hydroplane.

Minimum age for employment on seagoing vessels is 16, fishing boats there are exceptions in some circumstances...

 

[Pattree]

Are parachute flares and hand held flares treated differently? They didn’t used to be.

 

[nigelp]

On land the flares would likely set fire to the countryside and are not a ‘recognised’ form of distress recognition, as they are at sea.

 

[Pattree]

On land the flares would likely set fire to the countryside and are not a ‘recognised’ form of distress recognition, as they are at sea.

So why do civilian and military mountain rescue teams carry them?

In fact some carry at least two colours:
Orange = position and wind direction.
Red = distress.

 

[nigelp]

…….

 

[Chris]

So why do civilian and military mountain rescue teams carry them?

In fact some carry at least two colours:
Orange = position and wind direction.
Red = distress.

Military use flares and smoke for signalling other military units/people (or illumination/screening), where colours of said signal have specific meanings. For example I cannot recommend using red smoke to signal distress if there's military activity in the area, you'll find yourself with a bomb landing on your head if you're not turned into Swiss cheese.

 

[nigelp]

At sea a flare at 30/50metres will be seen for miles. In a valley the flare would be only visible to someone in the valley, or on the surrounding hills if the cloud base was high.

 

[TeeDee]

I'm trying to think of ( sensible ) reasons to have Flares and Parachute type flares if one isn't :-

Mountain Rescue
Seafarer
Military


Not saying to not have them - Just wondering on the possible expected application.

I'd be tempted to have a Parachute flare if I was A) Going well off the beaten track - think expedition and B ) Know for sure someone was actually looking for me but beyond that I think I'd just be owning one for the sake of owning it.

 

[nigelp]

…l.l

 

[TeeDee]

The other thing is - how do you know if anyone has seen it?

You could shoot it off and never be found anyway?
A whistle would be answered
A PLB would be pretty much a dead cert
A torch or strobe might get a touch or strobe response

Yep - did say that in my post above. - It would be a small window of opportunity for a potential rescuer to find someone - possibly useful over a more moderate / smaller area but not 'true' wilderness with so many features and topography

 

[Limaed]

RAF MRTs & military aircrew carry a ‘Day & Night’ flare. Night (flame) indicates position and Day (orange smoke) gives wind direction / position. Civ MRTs use something similar (can’t remember exactly and it might vary between teams). RAF MRTs got rid of ground illuminating and parachute flares years ago as the risk outweighed the benefit. The Day & Night flare isn’t a fire risk if used correctly.

In the context of land rescue (in the UK at least) I can’t think when a flare would be of more benefit over a GPS tracker. Additionally technology has moved on so much that anyone with a smartphone and internet signal can be traced (once they give permission).

There’s some pretty strict rules around carrying & training with flares in the military. A civilian bumming around their local hills with a flare might end up on the wrong side of the law if stopped by the Police.

 

[GreyCat]

So why do civilian and military mountain rescue teams carry them?

In fact some carry at least two colours:
Orange = position and wind direction.
Red = distress.

When my dad was a MRT member back in the 1980s, they carried smoke flares that were used to indicate wind direction to any supporting helicopter.

I guess this is the "position and direction" thing.

GC

 

[MrEd]

I’ve just found an old pouch that used to contain flares.

We’ve seen a discussion about carrying tourniquets in case of extreme crisis. I’m not sure that anyone has used one in other than a military scenario. The same might be said of flares.

Does anyone still carry smoke/flares either on the mountain or at sea?

I have a friend with a boat he uses for fishing and he has some fire and forget type flares - they came in a little sealed waterproof container thing