This is an old topic, but fresh in my mind. I just had to review a police dash-cam video and audio and watched while a young woman burned to death in her wrecked car because she couldn't cut out of a jammed seatbelt. Police on the scene just couldn't get thru the flames to extricate her. The screams went on for a long, long, time. I can still hear them.

There are plenty of emergency cutters out on the market. This is similar to the one I've just placed...and for my loved ones. Please, folks!

http://saveyourlife.us/resqme.html?gclid=CLPap6Ly550CFRtY2godIBRyLg

That is a hideous way to die.

Will be interested to see how this discussion goes. I recently acquired and now carry in the car the CRKT MAK-1 and Extrik-8.

http://www.agrussell.com/product.asp?pn=CL-2050&bhcd2=1257016044

MAK-1 is a rescue knife designed to meet the needs of a firefighter, made of tough 3Cr13 stainless steel at 54-56 Rc. It is truly a multiple-use tool. The chisel pry-bar tip is designed for opening doors, windows, and prying open locks and hasps. The 4-7/8" Razor-Sharp knife edge is a useful cutting tool. The handle features a deep finger choil and textured black G10 scales to give an excellent grip in wet conditions and when wearing gloves. The end of the handle has a stepped groove, which can be used as a window glass twist breaker and battery wrench. At the butt is a carbide tip breaker for instant shattering of windowpanes. An orange reflector lanyard is designed to keep the MAK-1 easily in sight. Overall length is 10". Weighs 10.0 oz

Extrik-8-R is a lightweight skeletonized seat belt cutter. It is also an oxygen bottle wrench and has two emergency screwdriver tips, blade and basic Phillips. It comes complete with an orange reflector fob and Kydex® sheath. Overall length is 4-1/8" and weighs 1.5 oz.

I started keeping a Spyderco Rescue knife and a Benchmade Rescue hook in the truck console after an accident here that had a child trapped in back because no one had a knife to cut the seat belt. He was there quite a while, fortunately no fire.

Yes- that is a bad way to go.

If the flames were already so bad that policemen could not get to the car, then the chances are that the woman inside would have had serious or fatal burns - even if she escaped. But still - you'd always want to see someone rescued if possible.

You need a cutting tool, and also an impact tool as well.

Any pocket knife with a reasonable blade would be fine for cutting a seat belt. Same goes for a tough pair of kitchen scissors, or paramedic shears. A rescue knife is also good for the job.

The impact tool is needed for breaking open the windows (drivers side or passenger side) in the event that the vehicle gets submerged. Just saw a police rescue on TV where a family in an SUV went into flood waters. Not good if you can't break windows and get out fast.

Thanks for posting this article.
It reminded me that I need to get these tools into my wife's van. She and the kids use it all the time.

Pete

I bought the MAK-1 with the intention of using it to help others. It nows occurs to me that I'm going to put a Ritter MK-5 in my driver door storage area.

Have to figure a way to secure it there in the event of a crash.

A strip of duct tape?

My wife & I carry Res-Q-Me's on our keychains.

Recently I added one to my tractor keychain figuring that if my tractor ever rolled I may need to cut my seatbelt - if I end up hanging on my side.

I also carry the larger Life Hammer in my console.

I also carry the ResQme on my keychain and LifeHammers in each car. I also have the ResQme on my carry bag and my dog walking EDC as I like to have them around even when I'm a pedestrian as you never know when you'll happen upon an accident.

Martor SOS-Cutter No. 537
http://www.martor.com/first-aid-cutters.html


Also worth looking at:
Mini-Salvex No. 536
Ruck-Zuck No. 55337

Martor is available from Germany or USA
The link I gave above is German, here is the one for USA
http://www.martorusa.com/

I hung a ResQme on the rearview mirror in the car & showed the wife how to use it.
I have another one on a keychain with a minimag solitaire & a Fox-40 Micro. Carried this overseas with me, no issues with airlines so far. I like the look of the Extrik-8R, but might get too much attention at airport security.

In the car, we also have a cheap flashlight rescue tool similar to this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013BP...p;creative=9325
Figure it only needs to work once...

Hanging things on vehicle mirrors can prove counterproductive. In several accidents that I've seen, the mirror was not on the windshield after the accident. Either something hit the mirror and it snapped off and/or the windshield had broken to the point that the mirror had nothing to stay attached to. In either event, anything attached to the mirror would most likely disappear in the resulting confusion.

Some folks have talked about placing them in glove boxes, ash trays, hanging on gear shifts and the like...I suspect that these places and methods will also be subject to accident issues and you may not find it where you left it.

No method of placing it is perfect. For me, the ResQMe lives on my neck lanyard along with a Fox40 whistle and an ARC AA flashlight. This method may or may not work for others. I thought about pockets,tyrapped to seat belts etc. and was unable to find a place that seemed like it would be easy to find when hanging upside down in the vehicle with glass all around...and yes, I once found myself in exactly that situation.

I'm certainly open to suggestions about other locations and your mileage may vary using a neck lanyard.

Regards,
Comanche7