"... sometimes you need to get away from shore for shelter..how would i spot and signal help?"

I had wondered about that myself.

You usually don't want to stay right near a water source, due to exposure, debris and wild animals going there to drink.

If I were on a lakeshore (etc), I might make a rather long (12") tassel of orange and mylar ribbon and tie the tassel to the top of a stick, securely anchored in the ground. Any breeze would make it flutter.

If I were just off a trail up in the treeline, maybe tie the orange ribbon across the trail with a note that says "HELP" and has an arrow pointing in my direction.

Sue