How often should gunfire be used as a distress signal?

The use of gunfire as a distress signal is typically recommended to occur at intervals of approximately 60 seconds. This frequency allows for sufficient time to pass so that any potential rescuers have a chance to respond to the signal and locate its source, while preventing the signal from becoming too frequent and possibly leading to confusion or disregard due to over-saturation of the signal.

Additionally, using gunfire at longer intervals than 60 seconds, such as 5 minutes, could lead to a delayed response in rescue operations, reducing the effectiveness of the distress signal. On the other hand, signaling too frequently, such as every 15 or 30 seconds, could create issues of being mistaken for something other than a distress call or overlapping with actual signals of distress from others in the area, which may complicate search efforts. Therefore, the 60-second interval strikes an appropriate balance between urgency and clarity for effective communication of distress.