It's no secret: safety is crucial when out hiking. Having every possible means of calling for help in an emergency is essential. The emergency whistle in hiking is one of those must-have items to carry on a day hike or a multi-day trek. And its low price and minimal weight make it an incredibly discreet companion — all the more reason to have one!
The emergency whistle in hiking is handy for calling for help
Hikers who are in trouble or in danger can use the hiking whistle to call for help. It's highly practical, since people can only interpret multiple blasts as a distress signal. When several blasts ring out in succession, it means someone is in danger.
If someone hears you from a distance, they might think you're calling your dog or something similar. But on hearing a whistle blast, they know unambiguously that you're in danger and need help.
Using an emergency whistle in hiking is far less exhausting than shouting for help. Imagine yelling for hours, especially if you're injured. With an emergency whistle, you'll expend far less energy while maximising your chances of being heard.
The shrill sound of a whistle carries far
The sound of a hiking whistle is high-pitched and piercing — it can be heard hundreds of metres away. Many people think a whistle is unnecessary because they can shout or whistle with their fingers.
But don't forget: in a distress situation, your energy can quickly run out. Using an emergency whistle takes far less effort and gives you a much better chance of being heard.
It's also highly important to keep this whistle around your neck. If you're injured, you'll be able to find it easily and use it so that rescuers can locate you as quickly as possible.
How to choose your hiking whistle
First, choose a pealess whistle — one that works reliably at all times and in all conditions. Pea whistles can become ineffective when it freezes or rains, which would seriously limit their usefulness in exactly those situations.
Going hiking means facing out-of-the-ordinary situations. Choose a metal whistle and you can be sure it won't deteriorate after a drop or an impact.
Also, choose a whistle in a bright colour. This makes it easy to find in your gear if it's not hanging around your neck. Equally, the hikers accompanying you will be able to locate it quickly if you're injured and they don't have a spare whistle on them.
The whistle is lightweight and inexpensive
There's really no reason not to equip yourself with an emergency whistle. It's extremely light and compact, weighing just a few grams. You can easily clip it to the strap of your hiking pack, or wear it on a lanyard or wristband.
What's more, an emergency whistle is an inexpensive piece of kit — just a few pounds. Many people underestimate it, simply because they've never had to use one. But it would be a shame to find yourself lost while hiking, or alone and injured, knowing that a whistle costing a few pounds could have resolved the situation far more quickly.
It's also worth knowing that an emergency whistle is sometimes included with your hiking pack. Some hiking pack brands already have an emergency whistle attached to the chest strap. It's important to be aware of this — it could save your life in a difficult situation.
How to use your emergency whistle
Using an emergency whistle in hiking follows international standard codes. That means you shouldn't use it haphazardly if you want to call for help. If you're in distress, you need to blow six blasts in a row.
Until someone responds, blow again, pausing for one minute each time. This lets you clarify the signal and recover some energy if you're injured. The person responding will also send three or six whistle blasts to let you know you've been heard. These exchanges of blasts then help rescuers locate you more easily.
You can also use your emergency whistle in hiking in situations that are less critical or urgent (as long as you don't overuse it, of course). At dusk, it helps a scattered group of hikers regroup. You can also give brief blasts to signal your position to trekking partners. Some people have even used an emergency whistle in hiking to scare off aggressive animals — a troop of rather feisty monkeys on a trek in Asia, for example. In short, there are countless ways to put a whistle to good use when things get tricky. It would be a shame not to include this small item on your hiking kit list!
