This is the wrong tread but here is a couple of interesting signaling ideas:

If you want to signal at night to airplanes or a distant location try pointing your SureFire at the airplane or horizon. Give them 3 good flashes and then rotate your body and give another 3 flashes, etc. The SureFire will reach farther than a D cell strobe light. Another way to signal at night is with your ferro rod. Face in the direction you want to signal. Make 3 good sparks and turn your body some and make 3 more big flashes, etc. It works like a strobe light. Get someone to observe at a distance of several hundred yards and give it a try. Try out different whistles while you are at it. You will find that the Storm whistle is significantly louder than any other whistle. Get one for each family member: $4.88 at Wal-Mart.