Whistles and Cagoules

[andy]

Just reading a blog post from Riina Kuuselo reminded me about a thought I had last week at the Wharncliffe SYO event. Why are orienteers often required to carry a whistle? I can sometimes understand the cagoule rule (although, I'm afraid, not last Sunday) but when it should actually be enforced it's often a case of common sense anyway. The whistle rule is very newcomer-unwelcoming, please can we lose it?

[AndyC]

Do you really want to be responsible for dozens of orienteers being savaged by crocodiles?

[Jayne]

I'm guessing AndyC might be referring to the beast in here:

http://forum.nopesport.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13016&hilit=whistle

Pretty sure my whistle is going to save me from the snakes and spiders in Oz.

[AndyC]

I might have been -but it has appeared in other threads.
And andy - I disagree bout it being unfriendly to newcomers - what's more friendly than "you need a whistle - borrow one of these" - it's how you handle it

[Freefall]

Andy

Picture yourself as event organiser standing in the Coroner's Court. Someone at your event fell in a deep concealed rock fissure and the body was found some time later. In the opinion of the court it took some time for the orienteer to die of hypothermia. It was judged that had he had a whistle to call for help there was more chance of his being discovered and his life may well have been saved. He was carrying a cagoule (it was heard by the court that this rule had been enforced) but unfortunately you as organiser had previously stated "the whistle rule is very newcomer-unwelcoming, please can we lose it?" How do you feel about things now?

[andy]

I disagree bout it being unfriendly to newcomers - what's more friendly than "you need a whistle - borrow one of these" - it's how you handle it

Arrive at start, get asked 'Do you have a whistle?', reply with a 'no?', then get a 'Well I'm afraid that's a problem, you'll have to go back to the assembly to get one'... 2km later you arrive back at the start with significantly less energy than you would have had otherwise

[housewife]

What does a whistle do that a person's vocal chords can't?

[SeanC]

It's a small problem with fliers written with experienced orienteers in mind. For example something like:

"Dependent on weather, whistles and waterproofs may be compulsory – please come
equipped in case."

is common and friendly enough for experienced orienteers, but if you're a newcomer, or infrequent orienteer, and wavering whether or not to go, then the faff of buying a whistle might put you off.

Adding "first timer?.. we will lend you one if you haven't got one, ask at registration." might be a good idea.

Most small events round my way don't mention whistles though.

[RJ]

Andy

Picture yourself as event organiser standing in the Coroner's Court. Someone at your event fell in a deep concealed rock fissure and the body was found some time later. In the opinion of the court it took some time for the orienteer to die of hypothermia. It was judged that had he had a whistle to call for help there was more chance of his being discovered and his life may well have been saved. He was carrying a cagoule (it was heard by the court that this rule had been enforced) but unfortunately you as organiser had previously stated "the whistle rule is very newcomer-unwelcoming, please can we lose it?" How do you feel about things now?

You have more to worry about explaining why the fissure was not taped off, and why were you subjecting competitors to such a danger!

[andy]

Picture yourself as event organiser standing in the Coroner's Court. Someone at your event fell in a deep concealed rock fissure and the body was found some time later. In the opinion of the court it took some time for the orienteer to die of hypothermia. It was judged that had he had a whistle to call for help there was more chance of his being discovered and his life may well have been saved. He was carrying a cagoule (it was heard by the court that this rule had been enforced) but unfortunately you as organiser had previously stated "the whistle rule is very newcomer-unwelcoming, please can we lose it?" How do you feel about things now?

You have more to worry about explaining why the fissure was not taped off, and why were you subjecting competitors to such a danger!

Yup, you'd probably lose your job for not whipping out the black and yellow tape in that situation.

There are so many ifs and buts it's hardly worth considering. I could come up with hundreds of other scenarios where x piece of small portable and cheap safety equipment could save someone but they aren't enforced.

[MIE]

What does a whistle do that a person's vocal chords can't?

The sound of the whistle penetrates "background" noise better then the sounds
generated by most persons vocal cords (which is one reason why they are used on
sports fields -- football, hockey etc..). Using a whistle requires less effort/energy
than trying to bellow at the top of your voice. Generally, the sound of a whistle
will travel further than that of a voice.

[Freefall]

When planning at Kyloe I nearly fell in just such a fissure - it had never been found by the mapper and was concealed by vegetation. I made sure no routes were near and I taped it.

[AndyC]

I disagree bout it being unfriendly to newcomers - what's more friendly than "you need a whistle - borrow one of these" - it's how you handle it

Arrive at start, get asked 'Do you have a whistle?', reply with a 'no?', then get a 'Well I'm afraid that's a problem, you'll have to go back to the assembly to get one'... 2km later you arrive back at the start with significantly less energy than you would have had otherwise

Which is why the loan whistles are with the start team -simples

[Freefall]

Andy C - thanks to your strong build at least you wouldn't have gone done the fissure I found at Kyloe so your head would have been above the surface

[AndyC]

Actually I fell into a fissure at Cong Burn sometime ago during an event and disappeared from view, If I hadn't jammed my knees and elbows into the sides of the shaft I would have fallen a long way I think.
What is relevant to the thread is that as I surfaced again EVERY orienteer in sight was headed my way summoned by my automatic cry as the shaft opened beneath my feet. I remember waving cheerily to show I was OK.