ELI5: what is the difference between sos and mayday

SOS is a general distress signal, while Mayday is a specific, urgent call for help when there's immediate danger.

Think of it like this:

• SOS is like waving your hand to say, "I need help!" You might be lost, your car might have broken down, or you might have a minor injury. It's a signal that something is wrong and you need assistance, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're about to die. Imagine you are on the playground and you fell and scraped your knee. You might yell "SOS" if you need a band-aid and a grown-up.

• Mayday is like shouting, "Fire! Everyone get out now!" It means there's a life-threatening emergency happening right now. A ship is sinking, a plane is crashing, or there's a serious medical emergency. It's a call for immediate and critical help to prevent disaster. Imagine there is a bully on the playground that is actively trying to hurt you and others. You might yell "Mayday" to let the adults know that there is a very dangerous situation.

• SOS: A general call for help.

• Mayday: An urgent call for help in a life-threatening situation.

So, while both are distress signals, Mayday is reserved for situations where time is of the essence and lives are at stake.