Emergency Whistles

[longri]

That's hardly the best example. At one point she could hear their voices but they couldn't hear her whistle.

Did you follow the link? The searchers didn't hear it at first, but they did later, so I beg to differ.
And yes, I carry a small mirror as well.

Yes, I read it straight off the page that was linked. She could hear distant voices but they couldn't hear her whistle. It wasn't until the next day that they heard it. So exactly how good is a whistle that is less audible than distant voices?

[Jimr]

I have an old Scubapro whistle. I should probably carry it. It's ear piercingly loud. Sound sucks at carrying over water as well as through forest and canyon.

Oh, and I carry earplugs. I call them index fingers

[maverick]

Sound sucks at carrying over water as well as through forest and canyon.

and windy conditions.

[whatmeworry]

No whistle for me. I had one of those orange whistle/buckle things on my sternum strap. But I don't like sternum straps so I removed it.

I played a part in a rescue that was initiated when I heard someone blowing their whistle. Would we have heard them screaming help instead? I'll never know since they had that whistle.

As a nearly 20 year member of a SAR team I directly participated in 2 searches where the sound of the whistle led directly to us finding the missing party. I can also confirm instances where a whistle can be heard but voices can't. Searchers often shout or call out along with blowing a whistle to elicit a response. Other search teams may hear the sounds and confirm via radio that it is another search team. Many times we will hear the whistle but not the shout even when both are done from the same location. This is particularly true if there is background noise such as running water. Whistles work.

Mirrors too. The shiny foil inner side of a Power Bar wrapper was even used to catch the eye of a searcher on Mt San Jacinto.

[Brien]

I carry a JetScream whistle. Super loud and weights virtually nothing.

[maverick]

Hi Whatmeworry,

Welcome to HST! Thank you for professional input on this subject, and the many years of service.

[dave54]

...Do any of you carry a signaling mirror?

Yes, I do. Use it periodically, to signal someone. Most recently, a fishing buddy who was upstream quite a ways.

[Tom_H]

I used to, but as I got older and needed to reduce weight, I took one only if I thought possible bear or white out conditions warranted it. Finally I got to a minimalist frame of mind and eliminated it.

[freestone]

A simple black whistle with the pea in it from my soccer ref days. I stow it in a small ditty bag with other small personal items, that I throw into my daypack when wandering or fishing. In the digital age, I angst more when I forget the Spot.

[AlmostThere]

Yes, Fox 40 whistle and a signal mirror. Yes, both have been used to signal that knothead trail runner before he could disappear into the distance... diferent knotheads, different trips.

Whistles can be blown on forever - yelling for two hours, you lose your voice. In some conditions, you can't hear either until you're almost on top of the person. If I were stuck in a canyon with two broken legs I'd want a whistle, some fire starting materials, a PLB, and water. If the helicopter can't land right next to me the PLB isn't the only thing I'd need. Being holed up under tree cover means you're going to have to have something to signal rescuers as they come closer. Thinking that the GPS coordinate will be accurate down to the meter isn't a mistake I'll be making.