This topic is about whistles. How to use them, why to use them, where and when.

I think everyone should have one. You don't have to use it. I hardly use mine. Raft guides and teams of Raft guides should use them more often, and have a protocol set for their useage, sometimes specific to the run they are doing.

Here's my understanding of how they're used, and how I use mine:

Most frequently I use mine simply to get someone's attention. This is ussually in a situation when attentions are divided, and I have the parties I need to communicate with in line of sight. Two short blasts (*Breet! Breet!*) are usually what I'll do to get someone to look at me, after which I'll hand signal what ever I need to communicate, or ask for some communication or another. It's an expectation of mine that anyone who's within my line of sight will briefly stop what they are doing and look in my general direction to see what I want. This I learned from being on the river with people more experienced than me, on private and commercial trips alike.

Sometimes I'm creeking with people who use whistles to announce that a drop is clear after someone has dropped it. Because of the horizon line, you often can't see what's happening downstream. One short burst (*BREET!*) seems to effectively communicate that it's ok to go without sounding like something is urgently wrong.

In both cases, you can control the volume of the whistle blast with how hard you blow it.
If you're close enough it doesn't have to be as loud.

A single, big loud blast- (*BREEEEEEEEEET!*) speaks for itself: Shit's going down. All hands on deck. Someone is swimming, a raft has flipped, or something urgent is happening. All heads need to snap in the likeliest direction of the "action", and be ready to assist in a rescue.

In the interest of not ruining someone's "wilderness experience" (  a favorite 'lil inside joke), whistles of course should be used sparingly. That's why I'm not personally a fan of using them to signal that a drop is clear. But if you have a big group, that may become more necessary.

What do you guys think? Is there anything I've said that's different from your experience? There's bound to be regional differences, ect. But if you paddle with me, that's what you can expect on the rare occasion I bust mine out. I'd be interested to see what others have to say...

yeah, I think that's sensible. Different people in different regions and such (who then all move around and paddle everywhere!) will have different variations of the same basic thing.

Good topic and one I've often wondered about.  I've always heard one bleep to get attention and three bleeps when stuff hits the fan.  Hand signals could also fall into this category as different groups usually have different signals.  Seems like it's one of those good things that a group should discuss prior to putting on, along with other safety significant items.

I like the extended blasts for emergencies and short repeated blasts for attention.  I also learned that 3 blasts repeated over and over is an emergency.  I have seen lots of people on the river without a whistle handy.  I would suspect that some have a whistle but not handy. 

The main point I'm taking from this is that groups need to talk about suck stuff before putting in!

I like this kind of discussion!

Hand signals are a whole other discussion!

Good thread JP- draws attention to an often under-appreciated communication strategy.  

Thanks for everyone's input! If you haven't chimed in yet, feel free to add somethin.
Yes, Franzi--

Hand signals would make a great thread. Ideally it would be great to have an illustrated encyclopedia of hand signals as a permanant reference on the site!

But again-- only the first dozen or so hand signals are really needed, after that they're just bound to create more confusion--but we should launch another thread for that can o worms!

oh, and as a side note, i think that by getting too specific with number of blasts, like 2 for attention, 3 for emergency, 4 for dismemberment, etc. it can get confusing which is why most raft guides just have the one blast emergency.

I'd rather woop than whistle when it's clear but I can dig the quick blast too. Sticky for sure on this one!

Hmm. Ok. That info is contrary to what I've learned and what the consensus seemed to be, but that's ok, and of course your input is valid, dude, if anyone's is.

one long blast, eh?

I just hope the Varied Thrush isn't around,

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Varied_Thrush/sounds

scroll down for the call

I have always been taught similar to Jonathan and Ben with regards to number of whistle blasts. One thing that I picked up from I think Rescue Randy, was carrying an extra whistle in my PFD pocket. It comes in handy especially during a rescue situation where you might have to teach someone else to be the safety or "eyes" above a drop and leave them a whistle to warn others about a situation, or to loan it to a paddler that doesn't have one. I feel as though my PFD is not river worthy until I have my whistle, knife, biners, tblocs, webbing and prusiks in or on the PFD. If you can't communicate or aid in a rescue with at least a whistle, you become a liability to your group. Probably the same people that don't have room for a throwbag...

I was in a life threatening situation....with someone else’s life in my hands, and I remember blowing my three spurt whistles and long drawn out bursts and I know for sure that they were both signaling something was wrong...the thing is, if no one can hear them, they do no good." if a whistle is blown on the river...does it make a sound?" good post.  Moral of the story...Be prepared and properly trained to communicate and have a safe and fun time on the river. Even then you never know what may happen!