Multitool.org Forum
Tool Talk => Rescue Tools => Topic started by: Tomahawk Rob on April 14, 2014, 08:26:35 AM
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How many people have actually used a "rescue knife"? In real life or training? When you are in a submerged or burning vehicle, things are not easy to do. Once panic starts everything becomes difficult to do. Where do you keep your knife or glass breaker? In your pocket? In the glove box? Have you ever tried to break an automotive window while submerged? From the outside? Nothing is as easy as it appears when SHTF.
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Luckily haven't had to use it under pressure but I do keep the ResQme in reach, attached with a mechanics cable keyring to the gear stick on a break away attachment point.
(http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh627/enki_ck/Mics/DSC00530.jpg)
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Not under pressure - yet. It lives in the first aid kit when travelling :salute:
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MY only rescue experience:
When I was about 6, my dad and I went to the park in the winter. I had picked up a wandering stick, like boys do. As we came to the lake, a man broke through the ice. My dad took the stick from me and pulled the man out of the water with it.
This alone was pretty intense for all 3 of us, without having to cut anything or use fine motor skills.
I now that I tend to drop things when agitated and I get sweaty palms. So as far as rescue tools go I would prefer a good grip, and I would fix a lanyard I could slip around my wrist. It would need a blade with a blunt tip, One hand opening. Or an automatic opening V-cutter.
I wonder if a Victorinox Hunter XS/XT would work for me. The dream model would additionally have the prybar/glassbreaker layer of the RescueTool.
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I have used a non-rescue tool for rescue purposes (LM Blast to cut a windshield), and I used a rectangle metal tube to make the holes in the windshield in order to get the saw of the blast in. I have used many different glass breakers and seatbelt cutters in training. Being a fire fighter though, I have a different understanding of being under pressure. I keep a ResQMe on my car keys, as well one in my uniform pocket when I am at work.
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This is my story
http://www.wengerna.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php?id=1042&page=3
"The longest day"
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Good read!!!
live from Nate's mobile
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Great story Hitman!
I'll bet the guys at Victorinox aren't too happy about it though!
Def
Sent from a digital multitool
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Not really under pressure!! I have this "Magnum Rescue Knife" with me for a long while and probably I have used it mostly as a first aid toolkit or just for peeling the stuffs. I never had experienced it in a tough situation till now.
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This is my story
http://www.wengerna.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php?id=1042&page=3
"The longest day"
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thank you for this story! :tu:
Goes to show: The best Survival Rescue Knife is the one you have with you!
And I can imagine that you did not register closing your knife blade.
I have one question: Were you working as tow driver, or EMT? I did not really understand that part.
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I work for Indiana highway dept
I am a Hoosier Helper we patrol the highway and assist people with whatever they need.
Gas, jump start, minor repair etc... we are also 1st Aid trained.
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I work for Indiana highway dept
I am a Hoosier Helper we patrol the highway and assist people with whatever they need.
Gas, jump start, minor repair etc... we are also 1st Aid trained.
That sound impressive. A rescuer for those in need! :salute:
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Rescue tool most commonly used for me is the LM Wave. Currently have an LM OHT but sometimes I miss the Wave.
After a crash. The inside of a vehicle vaguely resembles my bedroom in high school. Just stuff everywhere.
On your hip (same spot every time) is the best place, but this can freak people out and depending on where you live, may be illegal.
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Yes, many times. Once to extricate myself from my crashed Police k9 unit. (2008 Tahoe) I've broken 2 car windows and numerous house windows "
(rake and break method/drug raids) with a Yankee Hill flash suppressor on one of my AR's. Works well...
I've broken several car windows with one of those "tacticool" Smith and Wesson tactical pens with the carbide glass breaker. I just wanted to see if it really worked and in fact it worked quite well, requiring considerably less force than one might think. It's even better if the car window is tinted, that way it stays in one piece after it shatters. Then you just push it in and remove "bad guy" from the newly created opening. You could also open the door, but after you just broke his window why not emphasize your message, which was get the hell out of the car!
The trick to breaking any modern car glass with any tool capable of getting the job done is to hit the glass at the bottom of the window, nearest the door handle. Overall, this is where the glass is weakest when it's rolled up and most likely to break in it's entirety. Just my 2 cents.
Stew...
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One more thing. Like Tomahawk Rob said, nothing is easy when the plan didn't survive 1st contact. We know that under extreme stress and pressure humans lose some fine motor skills. This is why I'm not a huge fan of the "small' rescue devices. They will certainly work I suppose but in these situations it's usually better to have a handful of rescue tool. At the end of the day, the best tool is the one that you will carry faithfully, so it's there when needed.
Best,
Stew... :salute:
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One question, scattergun: (BTW: Thank you for sharing your experience with us :salute:)
Did you also break car windows from the inside? I wonder how the curvature (concave vs. convex) and the associated stress in the glass affects the outcome. Though I think it would be harder to break from the outside then the inside.
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You're most welcome Sir and thank you. I have never broken a window from the inside out. I certainly see your point about it possibly being different, I think I just assumed that it would break the same as outside in. I may go to the wrecker service I know tomorrow and pop a couple of windows with the resqtool. I'll do them from both sides and get back to you.
Stew...
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Ok, I hit 3 of them today. 2 from the inside and one from the outside with a resqtool. It worked but still wouldn't be my first choice.
Hope this helps,
Stew...
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I used a serrated blade ona wave to cut down a bloke who'd hung himself with a belt, and pliers to cut another guy who did it with insulated wire. Both super dead at that point, so not entirely high stress, but you always hope they'll splutter back to life.
(Police)
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rescue man never feels under pressure...
(http://i.imgur.com/OpHFzzK.jpg)
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On duty, I've used different tools plenty of times to take windows and whatnot. Off duty, I once used the window breaker on my (now sold) Chris Reeve Umnumzaan to take take two windows on a rollover I witnessed while coming back from a kayak symposium in Nova Scotia. I didn't work as well as a dedicated window punch, but better than nothing.