What should you do to prevent interference with distress traffic?

Ceasing all transmissions that might interfere with distress traffic is essential because it prioritizes safety and ensures that emergency communications can take place without disruption. Distress calls are critical and often involve situations where lives may be at stake. By halting any unnecessary communications, you allow emergency responders to communicate effectively and address the emergency at hand.

Using only emergency frequencies might seem appropriate, but it does not address the issue of interference from other communications happening on non-emergency frequencies. Switching to a different channel could also potentially create confusion and further complicate the situation, especially if the alternative channel is still crowded with non-emergency traffic.

Continuing normal operations during a distress call could lead to critical data being missed or the necessary response being delayed, which is unacceptable in an emergency situation. Prioritizing communication related to distress calls forms the core of responsible broadcasting practices in aviation and maritime operations.