Minimalist signaling kit for the kids

mercop

mercop

Joined
Mar 26, 2002
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4,940
Several years ago I took Fox 40 slimline whistle and a Photon light and put them on a mercleash with a carabiner for the two oldest kids. The kids liked them and all but they really never had the need to carry them since they were never away from us.

Now Elizabeth (12) is doing the normal JR stuff like attending football games. She usually has her signal kit in her school bag anyway since it is school approved (no weapons) but when she is away from us I make sure that she has it.

We live in a very small town now and there is a play ground / baseball field about 150 yards from the house. You can see it if you stand in our yard. Frankie (9) goes there to play with friends and knows that leaving the house without his signaling kit is a no go. The Fox 40 whistles are wicked loud and if the windows are open I can hear it from beyond the playground.

The other night we went on a haunted hay ride. Huge crowds, lots of noise and low light. It gave me piece of mind knowing the kids had their kits and that anyone blowing a whistle in that crowd would stand out. Seldom do you hear a whistle and they stand out.

This gets the kids into the prepared thing. When they are out and not on school property they both carry folders and sometimes fixed blades. Once in a while when they are with me I will act like I can't find something in the car in the dark and ask to borrow their light. It makes them very proud and realize the need to always be prepared.

One last word on the whistles...let them test them in the house once in a while but ensure they understand that they are only to be used in case of an emergency outside and that there will be repercussions for inappropriate use.
 
Don't forget to show the kiddies the inside of most potato chip bags. It is usually a form of shiny foil. If they have a soda can and scissors, they can make a tin can whistle too.
 
I had heard something similar on another thread and thought it was a great idea. Our 3 1/2 yr old carries a fox40 on a bright lanyard and has been instructed to only blow it if she finds herself where she can't see us. So far we haven't had to use it but it's nice knowing she knows what to do.

As she gets older I will expand the kit she carries to include a bright orange bandana (she can wave it) an emergency blanket, large garbage bag, and a flashlight. Don't want to weight her down now or it won't be fun to go outdoors.

I knew a Cub Scout leader who would make all of them wear blaze orange caps whenever they went camping or hiking. He said all he had to do was take a periodic count of the bounching orange caps and he knew he had them all. :-)

Charlie
 
Our oldest has a decent whistle he carry's, but not as often now that he isnt walking to school. (He is 12). His little kit includes a Swisscard, mirror, small compass, and the whistle. Whenever we are out and he wants to "go his own way" with friends or whatever, he carries one of our FRS radios. He has long known that his kit stays in his backpack, and isnt removed when he is out and about. There in case he needs it.
 
Good ideas guy's My twins are a little small yet for those things but I'm currently preparing kits for them as I go so that when they come of age to fully understand & are responsable enough to carry & use it they will have it !
 
Great ideas. Thanks I will pass this along!
 
Thanks mercop for starting this thread. I put together a very basic kit for my 8 yr old and 6 yr old for a family camping trip we took this summer. I included a whistle, small LED light, pencil, paper, emergency blanket, and something I haven't seen listed here -- surveyor's marking tape (the plastic flourescent stuff about 1" wide). In addition to explaining the proper use of the whistle and emergency blanket, I explained to them that they could tie pieces of the tape onto branches to make their location more visible.

Jon
 
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I'm glad to see that people are starting to condition and equip their kids to be ready for the unexpected. Having been on several searches for children and heard/seen in the news of several more in neighboring states I can tell that they are very very rarely prepared. As a parent these are my least favorite but are also the one search I will drop everything to respond to.

My own daughter is only a 1 1/2 but I've already started purchasing items for her first kit. I even ordered her first fixed blade knife and it should be delivered soon.
 
Great ideas, I would suggest one thing: the whistle should be kept in the pocket or on a neck lanyard for immediate use...not in a backpack.
 
I our school district the you have to take and pass a basic first aid class in 7th grade.
 
k_estela said:
Don't forget to show the kiddies the inside of most potato chip bags. It is usually a form of shiny foil. If they have a soda can and scissors, they can make a tin can whistle too.
Click to expand...

Hey k_estrela, post some instructions for making that tin can whistle. :)
 
k_estela said:
Don't forget to show the kiddies the inside of most potato chip bags. It is usually a form of shiny foil. If they have a soda can and scissors, they can make a tin can whistle too.
Click to expand...

Hey Kev, How about some instructions for making that 'tin-can whistle'?

Thanks. :)
 
storl said:
I was about to respond with the same thing. You have us intrigued, Kevin!
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Just watched a Youtube video yesterday with instructions on making one. It was under the Bushcraft search heading. Pretty neat. Nowhere nearly as loud as a Fox40 but could be useful.

CharlieTN
 
I'll try to give some basic written instructions. Cut out of the sides of a soda can two strips of aluminum. 1"x4" and 1"x2" roughly. You are going to hold them so that they form a cross. The smaller section will be basically fold under the longer section on each side. There should be a small piece of the longer section sticking out, fold this under as well (all 3 tabs should be folding under). This will be the mouth piece.

You are now going to shape the rest of the longer section of aluminum into the rest of the "P" shape with the mouthpiece being the leg. Make sense? The round section should not close up completely, in fact you will have to hold it in place but more about that later.

This might help.
CS44.jpg


You are going to form this shape minus the sides. You will pinch it between your finger and thub to form the sides. One other thing you will have to do is open up the mouthpiece a tad bit. I found that sliding my knife in a bit will open it up nicely. You'll have to fiddle around with how your holding it to get the best sound but it works pretty well in a pinch.

Hope that helps. Also do a search on youtube and you should find it.

Charlie
 
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