Whistle and Hand Signals

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Description

Traditions of guiding item 3


Resources

Several Whistles

Instructions

3. Use and explain four whistle and hand signals.

Traditionally, a Patrol Leader would wear a white lanyard which attached to her belt, and on it would be a whistle. It would be used for summoning the Patrol during games and activities. The signals used were:

A short blast - Hi or attention

One long blast - halt, silence, listen for next signal or Cease
A succession of long slow blasts - Go out, Get further away, extend or scatter
A succession of short, sharp blasts - Run Run Run, Rally, Close In, Come together, Fall In.
A succession of short & long blasts alternately - Alarm, Look out, Be ready, Man your posts
Three short blasts followed by one long one from any Guider - Leaders come here! ie: Sixers, Patrol Leaders.

If you associate the instruction with a phrase of the correct rhythm such as some of the ones above it is easier to learn them - like 'Leaders come here' or 'run run run' . . .

Hand signals were used, mainly by Guiders, in order to do 'silent drill' with their units. One still commonly used is the raised hand for silence - which should be obeyed the instant it is noticed. Others include the raised hand waved slowly from side to side which meant scatter or spread out; if waved quickly it meant close in or gather. A clenched hand raised rapidly up and down meant run away, and perhaps most importantly, a hand waved several times across the face meant cancel instruction or resume what you were doing!

Courtesy of Leslie http://lesliesguidinghistory.webs.com/traditionsbadgeshelp.htm fantastic resource


Tags

  • signals
  • traditions
  • Whistle

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