What color should distress flares be for them to be effective?

Distress flares are designed to attract attention and signal for help in emergency situations at sea. The effective color for distress flares is red because red is universally recognized as a color indicating danger or distress. When seen from a distance, red flares are highly visible against various backgrounds, such as water or sky, especially in low visibility conditions, making them an ideal choice for signaling distress.

Red is used internationally for maritime distress signals, which helps standardize responses and recognition among boaters and rescuers. This broad adoption ensures that any vessel observing a red flare understands it as an urgent call for assistance.

Other colors such as green, blue, and yellow are not recognized as distress signals in the maritime context. They may be associated with other meanings or could potentially be confused with non-distress signals, which could lead to misunderstanding and a lack of response from other vessels or rescue authorities. Therefore, using red flares ensures clarity and prompt action when a situation requires immediate assistance.