A gun fired at intervals of about how many minutes may be used as an emergency signal?

• A. Two minutes
• B. One minute
• C. Three minutes
• D. Five minutes

Answer: (B)

A repeating, attention-getting pattern is essential for signaling distress. Firing a gun at about one-minute intervals creates a clear, continuous cue that stands out to nearby vessels or rescuers, even in poor visibility or noisy conditions. The one-minute cadence is fast enough to convey urgency without being so frequent that it becomes confused with other actions, and it’s reliable as a distinctive distress signal.

If you were to fire at longer intervals (two, three, or five minutes), the signal would appear less urgent and could be missed or misinterpreted as a non-emergency. The short, steady cadence is what makes the pattern recognizable as a call for help.