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"What is an Emergency Whistle or Survival Whistle?\n\n\n\nIf you get separated from your group, you have a crisis, you are lost, or you need help from anyone nearby, an emergency or survival whistle is one of my favourite items.&nbsp; It’s a rugged, small and amazingly loud whistle, and will never run out of batteries or network!&nbsp; I highly recommend you buy them in bulk and have them throughout your life.&nbsp; While many crises are avoidable, they can still occur, and a whistle is an amazing device to reach out to those around you.&nbsp; Remember, three whistle blasts if you need help and one blast as a reply or if you are searching for someone.&nbsp; Read on for everything you need to know!\n\n\n\n\n\n\nhttps://youtu.be/4IWl36MH44s\nSubscribe to Better Preparedness on YouTube!\n\n\n\nWhat is an Emergency Whistle or Survival Whistle?\n\n\n\nIf you get separated from your group, you have a crisis, you are lost, or you need help from anyone nearby, an emergency or survival whistle is one of my favourite items.&nbsp; It’s a rugged, small and amazingly loud whistle, and will never run out of batteries or network!&nbsp; I highly recommend you buy them in bulk and have them throughout your life.&nbsp; While many crises are avoidable, they can still occur, and a whistle is an amazing device to reach out to those around you.&nbsp; Remember, three whistle blasts if you need help and one blast as a reply or if you are searching for someone.&nbsp; Read on for everything you need to know!\n\n\n\nWhat is an Emergency Whistle Made of?\n\n\n\nAn emergency whistle is\ntypically made of plastic so it won’t rust or freeze to your lips in cold\nweather.&nbsp; They are often orange in colour\nfor higher visibility. &nbsp;You can easily attach\nthem just about anywhere and to anything.&nbsp;\nAnd, you should be able to use it just about any conditions!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow do you use an Emergency Whistle?\n\n\n\nSimple: Put the whistle up to your lips and blast it!  The harder your lungs expel the air through the whistle, the louder the sound and farther reaching the alert.\n\n\n\nLooking to Buy Whistles?\n\n\n\nWhat Whistles Do I Recommend?  These are affiliate links, so I get a small commission at no cost, which helps my costs.  Buy whistles and have them with you.My favourite and in bulk: https://amzn.to/2VmuroFFox 40 Classic: https://amzn.to/2DvVJiAFox 40 Micro: https://amzn.to/2GFJdPhFox 40 in bulk: https://amzn.to/2VmuroFWindstorm: https://amzn.to/2VosgB6Shoreline: https://amzn.to/2IFg4G5Breakaway Lanyards: https://amzn.to/2GBJMsq\n\n\n\nUsing a Whistle is Very Public\n\n\n\nUnlike a conversation between\ntwo people sitting inside a car or speaking over the phone, the use of a\nwhistle is very public and can reach a lot of people.&nbsp; Those people may interpret whistle calls in\ndifferent ways.&nbsp; In line with the\nexpression to not “cry wolf” (meaning to not be calling for help unnecessarily,\nwhereby people cease to act on it), I recommend you do not blast whistles for\nfun.\n\n\n\nEstablish a Protocol of When to Use the Whistle and the Meanings\n\n\n\nIf you are part of a group or out with your family, establish ahead of time when to use your whistles but even if you forget or your children are pretty young and can’t remember the agree number of blasts, no blast is a bad blast if it helps alert others.&nbsp; That said, while there are at least three whistle communication standards, I recommend going with the first:\n\n\n\n1. Common Practice: 1 blast = generally \"how are you?\" or “where are you?” query; 2 blasts = \"I'm fine\"; 3 blasts = \"Help!\". &nbsp;This type of thing is important if you have search and rescues officials looking for you.&nbsp; Who will know who the victim is if everyone is calling out the same call?&nbsp; So, it’s best that the victim calling for help is using the standard three blasts and the searches and anyone responding is calling out a single blast.&nbsp; You could have multiple parties trying to come to the aid of a victim.  In a search and rescue context, as the victim, I’d be doing frequent triple blasts.&nbsp; As a searcher, I’d be using a single blast. \n\n\n\n2. Morse Code: Morse code was a standard radio or telegraph communication language in the early 20th century and consisted of short (•) and long (―) blips used at sea, radio signal, light signals, or by cabled communications.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nOne of the most famous Morse Code sayings is “SOS” (Save our Souls), often used in the shipping world when in great distress or sinking.&nbsp;It’s fine and dandy to know how to perform Morse Code for SOS on your whistle (•••, ―――, •••), but fewer and fewer people know Morse Code these days and how you reply to them if they actually reply back in Morse Code with: “•―, •―•, •, pause, ―•――, ―――, ••―, pause, ―――, ―•―, •―, ―•――”.&nbsp; Yikes, what does that mean?&nbsp; It means A-r-e &nbsp;y-o-u &nbsp;o-k-a-y?”.&nbsp; If you want to use SOS in Morse Code, go ahead as hopefully someone will hear it but I think it’s better to keep it simple.\n\n\n\nCourtesy of our friends at Wikipedia.\n\n\n\n3. There are other signals such as Mountain Distress Signals but the standard varies from region to region.&nbsp; It is typically three or six blasts to call for help.\n\n\n\nMy priority is that someone hears me and understands that I’m\ncalling for help and not just playing around or calling a dog.&nbsp; I suggest keeping to the:\n\n\n\n1 blast = \"How are you?\" or “Where are you?” \n\n\n\n2 blasts = \"I'm fine.\"\n\n\n\n3 blasts = \"Help!\"\n\n\n\nHow does a Whistle Fit into Emergency Management?\n\n\n\nIn the field of emergency management, crisis communication is the key ability to be in contact with those who should/might be able to help you or provide you the means to reach those you are trying to find.&nbsp; In a crisis, you need to be able to communicate.&nbsp; Whistles are a fantastic means to alert anyone within your vicinity and these little devices are a key element in your range of communication options.&nbsp; Ensure you have the range you need to be able to reach people far and near.\n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that a whistle is one form of your crisis communication and the larger emergency management picture.   You need to identify your risks, and then focus on preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response and resilience. \n\n\n\nWhy is Whistle Loudness Measured in Decibels?\n\n\n\nDecibels (or “dB”) are\nunits to measure the intensity of sound.&nbsp;\nThe more decibels, the louder.&nbsp;\nWhistle loudness is generally measured in decibels and there seems to be\ncompany pride in producing a higher decibel rating than the competition or\nbetween whistle models of the same size.&nbsp;\n\n\n\n\nActual whistle decibel ratings will also depend on how\nand/or how hard one blasts the whistle.&nbsp;\nBlowing more softly will produce a quieter sound.\n\n\n\nShould you Pay Attention to the Claimed Decibel Ratings of a Whistle?\n\n\n\nYes and no.&nbsp; Most good\nquality modern whistles produce a high decibel sound.&nbsp; Yes, there are some extreme whistles but they\nmight also be bulky.&nbsp; If a bulky whistle\nis not a problem or inconvenience, yes, the Windstorm\nis a great whistle.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nSuper cheap whistles or children’s toy whistles will often\nnot produce as high a sound but in a pinch, they might be enough to alert someone\ncloser by.\n\n\n\nThe important thing is that you are heard by anyone you are\nseeking to find you.&nbsp; I would recommend\nsticking with quality whistles.\n\n\n\nWhat is the Loudest Whistle?\n\n\n\nThe one you have will always be better than none.&nbsp; Ideally the one you have is of good quality\nand capable to being heard a ways away.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nThere are dozens and dozens and dozens of whistle\noptions.&nbsp; At full lung blast, most\nquality whistles produce around 100dB.&nbsp;\nThat’s seriously loud.&nbsp; Yes, some models\ncan be higher and the Windstorm is one of the louder models.&nbsp; That said, I’m a big fan of the Fox 40 and\nthe standard marine grade whistles, so that’s what I mostly have.\n\n\n\nMy biggest concern is\nthat most of time, we don’t have one at all!&nbsp; If you have multiple types of whistles with\nyou in your time of crisis, yes, using the loudest one is likely the better\noption.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nThe most important thing is actually having a whistle! What good is a whistle if you don't have it with you, where and when you need it?\n\n\n\nWhat is a Pealess Whistle and is Pealess Important?\n\n\n\nYou Probably Grew Up Using a Pea Whistle\n\n\n\nMany whistles from the old days had a little ball inside the\nmain chamber of the whistle.&nbsp; If you shake\na whistle and can see a little ball (the pea) rattling inside, that means it’s\na pea whistle.&nbsp; A pea whistle can be a\nvery loud and effective whistle, and a pea whistle can produce a distinctive\nfluctuation in its sound due to that pea circulating in the main chamber.&nbsp; Pea whistles are popular for use by referees in\nsports like soccer, football, and hockey.\n\n\n\nWhat are the Downsides of Using a Pea Whistle?\n\n\n\nThe downside of the pea whistle is that many of them stop\nworking if the whistle gets wet or gets gunky.&nbsp;\nIf, for example, you are in the rain or have fallen out of a boat, you\nlikely want your whistle working at near 100% even if it’s raining or you are\nbeing dunked by splashing water.&nbsp; Therefore,\nmost whistle makers have gone what is called “pealess”, meaning there is no pea\ninside the whistle.&nbsp; These pealess\nwhistles are therefore still very functional when wet, even very wet.&nbsp; Do a test next time you take a shower or have\na bath and see if your pealess whistles still perform.&nbsp; I suggest a gentle test blast of your whistle\nsince your bathroom walls will make a loud whistle sound very loud!\n\n\n\nYes, pealess is generally better but no whistle is a bad\nwhistle if it still manages to get you the help you need.&nbsp; If your daughter’s Dora the Explorer whistle manages to reach other people nearby, mission\naccomplished!!!&nbsp; \n\n\n\nThis cheap so-called 5-in-1 is a Jack of all trades, master of none. It has a pea whistle. While it can blast a decent sound, getting the whistle wet or gunky could prevent the whistle from working properly.\n\n\n\nA Pea Whistle May Actually be Illegal in Some Jurisdictions\n\n\n\nFor use in a boating environment, many countries or jurisdictions\nrequire that the mandatory whistle be pealess. &nbsp;National or state/provincial regulations will often\nrequire or strongly recommend having a whistle in the craft and/or attached to\neach lifejacket (PFD or personal floatation device).&nbsp; &nbsp;Transport\nCanada, the United States\nCoast Guard and the European\nUnion have various legislation surrounding life jackets and whistles.&nbsp; Even if the legislation does not specify that\na whistle be “pealess”, why waste the opportunity to have a working whistle\nwhen you need one. &nbsp;Always check your\nnational and state/provincial requirements regarding whistles and whistle\ntypes.\n\n\n\nEvery life jacket should have a whistle. If it didn't come with one, figure out a way to attach one. \n\n\n\nWhat are SOLAS Whistles?\n\n\n\nSOLAS stands for the International Convention for the “Safety Of Life At Sea” and it’s the international maritime treaty\naiming to set global safety standards in the merchant ship world, i.e. the non-military\nworld.&nbsp; Just about every country is a\nsignatory.&nbsp; So what is a SALOS Whistle or\na SOLAS Approved Whistle?&nbsp; I have yet to\nfind a legal definition of a what would constitute a SOLAS Whistle or a SOLAS\nApproved Whistle but research points towards it being construed as rust-proof\nand unimpeded from proper function due to being wet or having been immersed in\nwater. \n\n\n\nWhy do Many Countries Require Having a Whistle in Certain Circumstances?\n\n\n\nBecause whistles have proven their amazing value and benefit\ntime and time again.&nbsp; That sound can\ncarry amazing distances and get you that help you need or alert others.&nbsp; You can help searchers find you far more\nquickly.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nWhere can you Attach a Whistle or How Can You Carry a Whistle?\n\n\n\nJust about anywhere!!!&nbsp;\nKey chains, car keys, back packs, and purses are all good places.&nbsp; Given how small and important a whistle can\nbe, it’s important to attach it to something.&nbsp;\nYou need to have your whistle when and where you will need it.&nbsp; Having a whistle always nearby improves your\nchances of having access to it that rare time (hopefully) that you need it. &nbsp;Many backpack chest strap buckles even have a\nsmall whistle built in!\n\n\n\nAmong the many whistles we have, I have a whistle attached\nto all our car keys and our home key chains.&nbsp;\nIf my car goes off the road and I am pinned inside, I should still be\nable to reach the car key and the whistle attached to it.&nbsp; If I’m walking in the parking to my vehicles,\nholding my car key also means I have my whistle in case something rather sketchy\nhappens.&nbsp; You can add a whistle into your\nbicycle’s seat tool pouch.&nbsp; My favourite whistle can even clip onto a\nwaste band.\n\n\n\nAttach it to a key chain, backpack, rucksack, running belt, water bottle holder, belt loop, I don't care. The key thing is having it.\n\n\n\nPack a Few Whistles for Outdoor Activities!\n\n\n\nFirstly, you should always alert people as to your route and\ntime of return when engaged in backcountry or remote activities.&nbsp; Since an incident can happen and especially\nif I am solo and I fall while mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing or\ndownhill skiing, that micro whistle attached to my backpack and the quality\nwhistle always attached to my keys will help me call out for help.&nbsp; The Gatineau Park just outside Ottawa,\nCanada, has some amazing cross-country skiing, trail running and mountain\nbiking trails, but one can be on very remote trails intentionally or\nunintentionally.&nbsp; That whistle is a great\nway of reaching out to your buddies or any stranger to say: “Hey, I could use\nsome help over here!”\n\n\n\nYour Whistle Should Have a Safety Lanyard or Breakaway Lanyard\n\n\n\nThe lanyard (or cord) should have a safety detach so it shouldn't strangle the user.\n\n\n\nIn many circumstances, it’s helpful to have a whistle on a\nsafer lanyard.&nbsp; What’s a lanyard?&nbsp; It’s a rope to which you attach a whistle or\nidentification that loosely goes around your neck.&nbsp; I highly recommend you purchase “safety\nlanyards” which reduce the risk of being strangled if the lanyard was to get\ncaught on something.&nbsp; A safety lanyard such as this one has a\nsection that should detach and release the lanyard if it is jerked.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nNote that some lanyards are more of the detachable variety which\ncan be less releasable than one deemed a breakaway.&nbsp; “Detachable” lanyards might need to be\nun-clipped by hand for the lanyard to come apart.\n\n\n\nHow Many Whistles Should You Buy?\n\n\n\nBuy them in bulk.&nbsp;\nTrust me.&nbsp; Over time, you will\nlikely loose them here and there, or you’ll add them to more and more locations\nand items.&nbsp; I have bought many Fox 40 Classic and Fox 40 Micro whistles as they are very loud\nand sturdy, but my preferred quality bulk whistles\nare these marine grade ones. &nbsp;\n\n\n\nKids and Whistles\n\n\n\nFor older children, put a whistle on a safety lanyard and give\none to each child.&nbsp; Talk with your\nchild/children about when, where, and why to use it.&nbsp; Discuss how many blasts you want them to\nuse.&nbsp; Practice at home where you won’t\nscare people.&nbsp; Get your child comfortable\nwith using the whistle and capable of really giving the whistle a loud blast in\ncase of an emergency.&nbsp; Make sure you have\na whistle, too, since you need one to reply or call them!\n\n\n\nAlso put a whistle in your child’s school bag so they could\nwhistle for help if they needed to.&nbsp; Just\nremember that if abductions are a big risk, it might be difficult for your\nchild to access their whistle inside their backpack quickly.&nbsp; The lanyard-based whistle should be a bit easier\nfor a child to access in an emergency but a stronger adult might still prevent\nthem from using it. &nbsp;\n\n\n\nEvery Emergency Kit, First Aid Kit, and Bug-out Bag Should have Whistles\n\n\n\nThe packing list for all Emergency Kits, First Aid Kits, and\nBug-out Bags should include multiple whistles.&nbsp;\nWhen we go hiking, I grab our hiking emergency kit and it has enough\nwhistles for our family of four to each carry one.&nbsp; Add some to your first aid kits since you are\nin a crisis and might need to call for help.&nbsp;\nA bug-out bag or grab-bag is a prepacked bag in case you need to flee\nyou surrounding or only have moments to leave your structure.&nbsp; Add some whistles to that packing list, too.&nbsp; Checkout\nthe Better Preparedness article on easy outdoor emergency kits!\n\n\n\nIn your outdoors emergency kit, make sure you pack a whistle for each person and hand them out for the outing. \n\n\n\nThe Alternatives: Voice, Radios and Phones?\n\n\n\nYou could say that there are many alternatives to whistles but\neverything has its pros and cons, and I will always maintain that the whistle\nis one of the best attention-grabbers and means of close proximity crisis\ncommunications.\n\n\n\nWhistle versus Voice\n\n\n\nAccording to the Guinness\nBook of Records, the &nbsp;normal intelligible outdoor range of the male\nhuman voice in still air is 180m. &nbsp;That\nsounds about right.&nbsp; Many factors greatly\nreduce that distance such as wind, objects, obstructions, and other noise.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nUs humans have a limited number of times we can yell loudly\nuntil our vocal cords and throats will hurt.&nbsp;\nIf your rescue requires you to keep trying to alert someone in your vicinity\nfor many hours or days on end, a whistle will be far more effective.&nbsp; Keep blasting and blasting.\n\n\n\nWhistle versus Walkie-Talkie\n\n\n\nWalkie-Talkie will carry farther but it requires electrical\nbattery power.&nbsp; Walkie-talkies only work\non the selected frequencies with people who also have their radios turned on,\nvolume up, and on the right channel, many things that can go wrong.&nbsp; Walkie-talkie range will also be impacted by\nstructures (especially if indoors), topography (mountains, hills,…), and vegetation\nsuch as thick forest.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nHere’s a top-tip: Attach a whistle to each walkie-talkie so\nthat you have a back-up crisis communications system.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nWhistle versus Mobile Phones\n\n\n\nThere are tremendous pros of having a working mobile phone, with\nthe phone having battery power, with network coverage, and everyone’s numbers\nsaved.&nbsp; Remove one of those variables and\nyou now have a problem.&nbsp; There might be\nquite a few people (strangers) also within 1km you can’t phone.&nbsp; A whistle is a great accompanier to each\nperson’s phone. &nbsp;\n\n\n\nCan A Whistle Cause Hearing Damage?\n\n\n\nYes, potentially.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nThis article is about emergency situations and I hope you nor\nI is frequently in need of blasting a whistle at the top of our lungs for a\nprolonged period.&nbsp; I would be concerned\nabout hearing damage if I was a sport referee constantly using my whistle.&nbsp; \n\n\n\nAs it stands, I’ve hardly ever had to blast a whistle as if\nmy life depended on it.&nbsp; If I find myself\none day in need of blasting my whistle, I can decide what strength is needed\ndepending on the circumstances and surrounding environment.&nbsp; Be careful in closed spaces if you want to\ntest a whistle as it can really hurt your ears.\n\n\n\nWhat Whistles Do I Recommend?\n\n\n\nMy favourite and in bulk: https://amzn.to/2VmuroF\n\n\n\nFox 40 whistles come in many models and I have many Classic\nand Micro Fox 40 whistles: \n\n\n\nThe classic Fox 40: https://amzn.to/2DvVJiA\n\n\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fox 40 Micro: https://amzn.to/2GFJdPh\n\n\n\nFox 40 in bulk: https://amzn.to/2VmuroF\n\n\n\nWindstorm: https://amzn.to/2VosgB6\n\n\n\nShoreline: https://amzn.to/2IFg4G5\n\n\n\nBreakaway Lanyards: https://amzn.to/2GBJMsq\n\n\n\nWhat Sounds Do Emergency Whistles Make?\n\n\n\n\nhttps://youtu.be/4k7QSS2_HRc\n\n\n\n\nShare your Whistle Experiences in the Comments Section Below!\n\n\n\nShare your favourite model of whistle and share your whistle\nstory below.\n\n\n\nConclusion\n\n\n\nAn emergency whistle could be the best dollar for dollar\nemergency preparedness tool in existence.&nbsp;\nBuy them, equip your life with them, plan with your contacts how to use\nthem, and always have emergency whistles nearby.\n\n\n\nBe safe and integrate whistles into your crisis preparedness\nand emergency management!&nbsp; Remember:\n\n\n\n1 blast = \"How are you?\" or “Where are you?” \n\n\n\n2 blasts = \"I'm fine.\"\n\n\n\n3 blasts = \"Help!\""
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