When an emergency button 8a of a radio communication apparatus has been turned ON and a transmit mode button 8b has been depressed, an MCU 11 sets frequencies of a receiving section 2 and a transmitting section 3 to an emergency communication frequency. The MCU 11 also causes an indicator lamp 10 to illuminate or flash at peak intensity, and causes a burst sound to be supplied from a loudspeaker 6 at the maximum volume. Then, the MCU 11 causes a built-in timer to measure a given time period while resetting the timer whenever a reception/transmission switching operation is performed or a communicating signal is detected. While the timer measures the time period, the MCU 11 causes the indicator lamp 10 to be turned off. When a timer expiration is detected, the MCU 11 causes the indicator lamp 10 to be turned on or flashed again.