It might come as a surprise to many people, but, like pepper spray or other personal alarm, a whistle can be used in self-defense. A “rape whistle” serves as a deterrent and protects young women from being attacked, suffering from sexual violence or sexual assault, and reduces the chances of being the next rape victim because it draws attention to a situation and deters potential rapists. The blaring of a whistle ensures you’ll get the attention of anyone within earshot and it can be enough to send an assailant running for the hills, derailing the original intentions of the wrongdoer.
Whistles, when used as a personal alarm, have other advantages, too. Aside from alerting people in the area to a problem, whistles are easy to operate, easy to carry and don’t cause fatal harm. You can use a whistle in just about any situation without concern for the repercussions. For instance, if you feel threatened, but you aren’t sure the situation is dire, you can blow a whistle without causing any permanent damage—something many rape victims wished they had carried in the first place. The worst case scenario you’ve made a mistake and drew some attention to a situation for no reason. If you’re using a gun or knife or other kind of weapon and you misjudge a situation, you’re going to cause serious, possibly fatal harm.
A rape whistle can also be used with ease under pressure. You might have dedicate a lot of time to practicing with a weapon and be a skilled markswoman, but when you’re under pressure and being attacked it can be tough to use all the skills you’ve perfected. A whistle requires very little from you but still packs a powerful impact when it comes to preventing an attack. Everyone knows how to use a whistle and just about everyone can use one, even in a high-pressure situation.
A whistle can also come in handy in situations other than an attack. For this reason, you should carry your whistle with you at all times. It’s lightweight and easy to toss in your pocket, put on a keychain or wear around your neck, and you never know when you might need it. Situations, when your whistle can be used for protection other than a personal attack, include:
- Survival situations if you’re in a natural environment and facing a potential animal attack, a whistle is usually enough to fend off the animal. They’ll be frightened by the noise and flee the scene with a few sharp blows on the whistle.
- Natural disasters when you need to alert someone to your whereabouts. There are plenty of scenarios when you might need to be rescued but your voice wouldn’t be loud enough to alert first responders.
- Gaining the attention of a crowd of people or specific people in an emergency. You can use your whistle to get the attention of people for whom you are responsible if there’s an emergency and you need to gather everyone together in a hurry.
Having a whistle with you ensures you are prepared and able to handle a variety of situations, including an attack on your safety. You can even use it in conjunction with other self-defense tools, including weapons.
Choosing a Rape Whistle for Your Safety
There are many whistles on the market and choosing the best rape whistle for women that will provide a decent amount of protection and peace of mind, but if you’re really serious about protecting yourself from danger, you’ll want to invest in a tested rape whistle designed to alert people to your situation. There is an endless amount of choices and it can be overwhelming. There are plenty of people who needed to purchase just a single rape whistle and ended up with several cast-offs that weren’t good enough. Whistles tend to be inexpensive, so people get lured into buying more than one to try and the next thing you know you’ll have a drawer filled with not-quite-good-enough whistles.
What should you consider when browsing rape whistles?
First and foremost, you need a whistle that makes plenty of noise. The louder the better, so don’t worry about overdoing. You want people to hear your whistle far and wide, and hopefully give you the help you need. You also want to make sure the rape whistle is loud even if you aren’t putting all of your efforts into blowing it. You need to plan for any occasion, and there’s a chance you’ll be injured and unable to fill your lungs to capacity when you need to blow the whistle.
Next, you’ll want to make sure the rape whistle can stand up to all conditions. You don’t want something that stops working if it’s freezing outside or if the whistle gets wet. Some whistles don’t work as well if they are exposed to extreme conditions, so make sure you get a whistle that can be counted on to work no matter what’s going on.
Look for a whistle that’s jam-free. Some whistles can get backed up or jammed, especially if they rely on a pea to work. Anytime a whistle has a moving part there’s a chance something can go wrong with it, so make sure you invest in a whistle that is pealess or has no moving parts.
Finally, look for a whistle large enough that it won’t get easily lost. It shouldn’t be too big because you want to be able to carry it easily, but it also shouldn’t be so small that it ends up in a corner of your handbag and you can’t find it when you need it. It might even be a good idea to put the whistle on a chain or lanyard so it’s easier to find and can be worn if you think you’re entering a high-risk situation.
Now that you know what to look for in general in a rape whistle, you can evaluate some of the best options on the market. Here are our picks:
UST JetScream Whistle
At 122 decibels this is one of the loudest rape whistles on the market. It can easily be heard over other noise, so it would work even in a noisy, crowded location—something that perpetrators consider when planning an attack.
Those who have used the whistle claim it’s so loud it makes their ears ring.
The UST JetScream is made from durable plastic and won’t rust. It also has a pealess design, so it can’t get jammed. It’s a little over two inches long and weighs about a third of an ounce. It’s available in black or orange and can float in water if you’re wearing it while swimming and need easy access.
Keep in mind, despite this being potentially the loudest whistle available, you do need to give it a hard blow to reach the 122-decibel potential. It’s going to be loud regardless, but if you need to get as loud as possible, it might be tough if you’re trying to use it while injured or if you’re ill and don’t have full lung capacity.
The UST JetScream retails for less than $.
Storm All-Weather Safety Whistle
This is the whistle for you if you’re living in a cold climate or traveling someplace with unpredictable weather. It rivals the JetScream in volume and whistle testers found themselves covering or plugging their ears during the practice runs. This whistle is 75 percent louder than a referee whistle so there’s no concern whatsoever about whether people will be able to hear this whistle when you blow it. You’ll alert everyone to your situation within an earshot that extends far beyond the normal range.
This whistle has the distinction of being heard underwater at 50 feet and it’s approved by the Navy Seals and Coast Guard for use. It comes in orange and can be attached to a lanyard or keychain.
The downside of the Storm All-Weather Whistle? It’s too loud! That’s right—people reviewing the whistle complained about how loud it is, so you know you’re getting exactly what you need if you want to use this as a rape whistle.
This whistle retails for less than $.
HEIMDALL Safety Whistle with a lanyard for Boating Camping Hiking Hunting Emergency Survival Rescue Signaling
The Heimdal emergency survival whistle is constructed of non-brittle plastic. It won’t crack or break and comes in a variety of bright colors that won’t fade. It’s pea-less, making it fail-safe, so you don’t need to worry about the whistle getting jammed when you’re in an emergency situation. It also won’t freeze or stick to the lips like metal whistles tend to do in freezing temperatures.
The whistle has a two-sound chamber design that makes a high-pitched, 120-decibel sound that can be heard for up to a mile away. It features a clip and lanyard, so you can attach it to a variety of things including backpacks, paddleboards, life jackets, belts or shoulder straps or wear it around your neck.
Heimdall offers a warranty and lifetime support, so if you ever have a problem with your whistle you can get in touch with someone to help you.
This whistle retails for about $ for a two-pack.
Fox 40 Sonik Blast CMG Whistle
The Fox 40 Sonik Blast CMG can help you in just about any emergency situation. It’s one of the preferred whistles used by lifeguards and referees, but it’s also great as a rape whistle. It’s loud and easy to use, claiming that it can be used even by people with asthma who struggle with getting to full lung capacity. It’s made from durable ABS plastic that won’t be sticky even in cold temperatures.
This whistle is capable of reaching 120 decibels—may be higher—if you can reach full lung power. It has a high-pitched sound and can be heard over other noises. Its pealess design means there are no moving parts and it won’t get jammed when you need it most.
The whistle features a compact design and retails for about $ for a two-pack. It comes in red and black.
Vargo Titanium Emergency Whistle
The Vago Titanium is designed as an emergency whistle and makes for an ideal rape whistle. It also has the added benefit of being made from titanium—the world’s lightest and most durable material. This whistle isn’t going to break no matter what sort of beating you give it.
This whistle has a pealess design, so it won’t jam. It’s loud at 100 decibels, but not quite as loud as some of the other whistles on our list. This whistle is lightweight, can be attached to a belt or keychain, it comes with a cord, and it won’t jam, making it a great rape whistle for just about anyone.
The only concern people had about this whistle is that it’s constructed from multiple parts so there is some concern about the whistle’s ability to work if the parts fail.
These are just some of the great rape whistles on the market. Most of them are inexpensive enough that you could buy and try more than one, but chances are you’ll be happy with any of these choices. The best thing you can do is try out one and see how you feel about it. It doesn’t hurt to have more than one whistle either and you can keep one in your vehicle, one near your bed, one in your purse or backpack, etc.
A whistle is a great option for protection and to use as a deterrent against an attack. It can be paired with other weapons to give you double security and to help you prevent the need for using lethal force. Many people like to have whistles with them so they can take action without worry for causing any permanent harm. Parents also like the idea of giving their children whistles when they are playing outside or at a playground and aren’t quite within eyesight. A child blowing on a whistle can alert you to a variety of dangers.
Finding the best rape whistle doesn’t need to be a challenge. There are plenty of options out there and everyone should be able to find something that suits their ability to use a whistle and offers the durability and portability you need.