Final answer:
The best way to send a distress alert in an emergency situation is to Activate the EPIRB, providing a reliable signal to satellites and rescue services.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a distress situation, the best way to send a distress alert is to Activate the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). Flags could be useful in certain situations, however, the EPIRB is the most effective method because it sends out a signal that can be detected by satellites and rescue services, ensuring a fast response no matter your location. Using Semaphore Flags could be a secondary means of communication if visual contact with rescuers is established, but it is not nearly as reliable as the EPIRB for initial distress signaling. Shouting loudly is only effective at very close range and sending a fax message would require access to a working communication system and someone actively monitoring the incoming fax, which is not practical in an emergency. Therefore, activating the EPIRB is the recommended action in an emergency.