112th Precinct Community Council

Free Whisltes for your safety

Oct 07, 2006

Free Whistles for Your Safety
By Heidi Harrison Chain

We have purchased whistles and miniflashlights for the members of our community. Please be sure to come to our precinct council meetings to obtain your free whistle/miniflashlight on a key chain.

At our June Emergency Preparedness Forum, we learned of the importance of having a whistle. In the event of an emergency, the FDNY and the office of emergency management indicated that using a whistle helps locate someone who may be trapped.

In addition, for safety- a whistle can be heard if you are being attacked. Whistles are extremely loud and can be heard over a crowd, howling winds and other competing sounds. Whistles for safety reasons have been adopted by the US military, police departments and emergency personal. The loud, attention-getting blast from these whistles can save lives as they can enable responders to find you or to focus attention on you in the event of an emergency. It should be used as an added safety tool for seniors, people with disabilities, as well as children. Whistle programs are being used on many college campuses to help protect the students on campus at night and in their dorm rooms.

The whistles that the precinct council has for you are on a keychain so you can have it with you in the event of an emergency. The whistle should be used if you feel threatened or need to call attention to an emergency situation.