Whistles are required for my team

[Guest jefficus]

One of the other threads touched on communicating by whistle. I thought it was worth bringing this up as a separate topic as I believe it touches on safety when caching with kids and thought I'd pass this along to other caching parents.

 

I usually take my kids when I go - aged 8, 5 and 3. Our start-out ritual involves each kid being given a Fox-40 whistle (no pea to get stuck). It goes on a short elastic tether around their wrist. They know that these are for emergencies only and they've been pretty good about not playing with them.

 

Every month or two, we have a "practice" at a local forest in which each kid practices being lost and blows the whistle as loud as they can. 3 short blasts means "I'm lost". 1 long whistle means "stay where you are - we're coming". The lost child then continues with 3 short blasts every minute or two so that the searchers can locate her. We have yet to need these whistles 'for real' but I am a lot more comfortable taking my 3-year old now that she has successfully worked the protocol several times during our practices.

 

Jefficus

 

[This message has been edited by jefficus (edited 13 August 2001).]

[Guest Olar]

EXCELLENT !!!

[Guest mav]

This is great. I have just started working with my 2 year, 9month old on this. She still doesn't get why she would need to blow her whistle- but at least she has one and maybe will use. I like the practice you do- that would probably work for us- thanks for the suggestion!

 

Another idea is the "Hug A Tree" program- http:// http://www.tbt.com/hugatree/ The basic idea is AS SOON as they can not see you- they grab the biggest tree in their sight. Children can wander aimlessly for hours and be completely out of what you might expect the search area to be. Also because they are smaller- they can scramble under bushes and branches we might never think to go. While adults are inclined to stay on trails- children often don't even notice the trail.

 

Great job on teaching your kids to be safe!

 

 

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~~Smiles~~

Mav

[Guest mcb]

On a similar notion. My brother and I whistle to locate each other when deer hunting. A whistle will travle a good distance and if done with your mouth and not an actual whistle it is a fairly non intrusive sound and generally does not spook any nearby animals. So then next time you get seperated from you caching buddy try it. Especial in area where you think you might get to see some wild life.

 

mcb

[Guest BigDoggie]

An excellent idea. I have had one of these for my kid since she was VERY young... she's a teen now. I attached the whistle to a snaphook and hooked it to the clothing. A small carabiner would work, too.

 

In case your local store doesn't carry them, here are some sources:

 

Info from the official factory website

http://www.fox40whistle.com/

 

Mail order source for the "mini" model, available in several colors, $3.75 each, on sale for $3.10 right now.

http://www.gundogsupply.com/-m40-.html

 

Same thing, but classic rather than mini, and made of glow-in-the-dark plastic, $5.95

http://www.landfallnavigation.com/sf40w.html

 

And the Classic in black, $4.75, good price.

http://www.coaches-choice.com/itm00115.htm

 

And camo

http://www.productsforanywhere.com/gear/details/fx_fox40.html

 

[This message has been edited by BigDoggie (edited 15 August 2001).]

[Guest CaptHawke]

And, of course, whistles make nice little items to put in a cache. I've left a couple so far.

 

Cephas H.

NH