Emergency Duty Tool

[dingle_berry]

Good evening.

My wife asked me to find her an emergency tool for our new car, preferably with a seat belt cutter and window breaker.

Do any of you have experience with any duty tools you'd recommend? Ive read about a bunch of products, but never heard from anyone with actual experience.

My preference is for a spring loaded mechanism, but I'm certainly open to your suggestion.

Thanks

[ffjdh]

Id pick her up a ResQme. They are nice and compact , and don't have a bunch of unnecessary gadgets.

[dingle_berry]

have you used one before? will it only break door windows? what about windshield or tailgate windows? my biggest concern is ill purchase her a tool thats marketed for safety, but wont actually get the job done if we ever have to use it

[74c5]

http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?event=product.detail&ProductID=4060

?

[Off the Roster]

Go with the folks who know - lifehammer

http://www.lifehammer.com/features_instructions.html

created and made in the netherlands where escape tools are mandatory in every vehicle since the nation exists below sea level. they are designed to be used on side windows as those break easiest, but will work on front and rear windshields with force.

[dingle_berry]

Has anyone actually used one of the products you're recommending?
I have google, I was hoping for more recommendations based on personal experience/training

[ffjdh]

have you used one before? will it only break door windows? what about windshield or tailgate windows? my biggest concern is ill purchase her a tool that's marketed for safety, but wont actually get the job done if we ever have to use it

Yes I have used them before, and they do work. I am a fan of the tools that utilize a center punch, especially for non professionals. With the rescue hammers if you aren't careful you can put your hand through the window after you break it with the hammer. Just because its safety glass doesn't mean it cant cut you, and the last thing you need in an emergency is a cut up hand.

All the "window breaking tools" will break your side windows and in most case rear window The front window on cars are laminated meaning they usually have a layer of plastic sandwiched between two pieces of glass. You cannot shatter the front window. If she wants to be able to get out of the front window she will need something with a saw. At that point it is faster to get out any of the other windows with a punch.

[3S16]

Check out the CRKT exitool. Seat belt cutter, window breaker and a small led light. Clips onto the seat belt .Pretty cool. For about $17 on Amazon. youtube video shows it in action (sorry, don't know how to do links)
Getting one for both my cars.

[blkside]

I bought this at Costco and use it... It shows on Amazon for 19 dollars... I got it at costco for 7-9 dollars.

It has a white and red flashlight... not bright but adequate
seat belt cutter
glass break (see the thumb button near the butt - you slide it and the heavy glass break pops out)
illuminated tire pressure gauge

It is solid. I am pretty sure you can use it as a glass break just by the heft of it.

[WARTFROG]

Spark plug.

http://youtu.be/QhlmKHbPFhU

[dls]

Spark plug.
http://youtu.be/QhlmKHbPFhU

I think he wants somthing to use from inside the car. The spark plug may be a little difficult for his Wife to throw from inside in an emergency situation, i.e. upside down underwater..

[CaptainPete]

Task Force Tips makes this, web link is so you can see a pic, you can find one on Ebay too, keychain style, gave one to my mother in law, she had a fear of being trapped in her car if she accidentally drove into the water. good for the seatbelt and side windows. Windshields take a lot more even for trained professionals.

http://www.cmcrescue.com/equipment/res-q-me/

on a side note, dont let little ones play with your keys if you get this, it has a razor blade in it.

[Medic451]

Any emergency extrication device should be simple, contain no moving parts, within reaching distance from the seat without moving your torso, and should be usable with one hand. Pocket tools with nifty folding things and spring loaded punches are difficult to manipulate under stress and with one hand.

Lifehammer is the most practical design of the ones mentioned so far.

[dingle_berry]

Thanks for all the great information.

My only thought, and maybe it should just be chalked up to being uneducated in this realm, is I worry that having a hammer that you have to swing against the window may be difficult depending on your body position and available space to actually complete a swing...but I also understand your point about stressful situations and manipulation of spring operated devices that are small and may be easier to drop and not find during an emergency...perhaps the right answer is both :-)

[Medic451]

With the hammer you really dont need much of a swing, just a little direct pressure from the metal tip can break side door glass. If you insist on going with something smaller, take a look at the Gerber Hinderer knife- designed by a Firefighter. I carried it for many years till I bent the clip. Its a pretty tough and well designed rescue knife. It has a window punch and folding seatbelt cutter built in, plus a blunt tip for prying. The black CLS version has a normal tipped blade.