A reminder for the next time you are staring at the closeout bin, tempted by rescue flares in white, green or purple: red flares are the only true signal of a marine distress situation, according to the U.S. Coast Guard's search and rescue manual.

While rescuers may investigate flare sightings of any color, red flares are automatically treated as a marine distress call and investigated accordingly. Other colors may send the wrong message. Orange flares, for example, are used by downed aircraft.

Red flares are the only color on the Coast Guard's list of approved equipment, so stick to that side of the color wheel.

– Theodore J. Sawchuck