Glass hammer/seat belt cutter?

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mwalsh

Well-known member
Leaf Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
9,781
Location
Garden Grove, CA
Do any of you carry a combination glass hammer/seat belt cutter in the car with you? I've seen two situations on the news in the last two weeks where a car's occupants couldn't get their seat belts off after a crash, one of which the car was on fire!

I've been thinking about getting them for our cars for a while now, since I saw them installed at every other seat in a hire coach while we were visiting Denmark a few years ago, and I think it's time to follow through.

If you have one, did you install it on the B post within arms reach, or simply put it the glove box or center console?
 
I have one in the centre console. I thought about the door pocket but figured in an accident it might not still be there when you need it. Also the magnets on mine are not strong enough to keep it in place in an accident. I figured in the centre console you can reach it from any seat vs the glove box.

I got it after I came across a vehicle fire on the side of the road, I wasn't the first one there but others said the guy was unconscious doors locked. If I had had it I would have gone up and used it. I know from you tube videos that you can't smash a car window with your elbow like they do in movies so I wasn't about to risk going near a fire for what was likely to be an impossible situation.

I've been meaning to get one for my other car too.

just got one on ebay $2

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2-In-1-Car-G...966893?hash=item4af53c902d:g:rQAAAOSw7FRWZB9G
 
The dedicated car tools are uni-taskers and will likely just sit unused forever. A good pocket knife with a carbide tip on the handle will give you the glass-breaking and seatbelt-cutting capability, but can also be much more frequently useful.
 
Nubo said:
The dedicated car tools are uni-taskers and will likely just sit unused forever. A good pocket knife with a carbide tip on the handle will give you the glass-breaking and seatbelt-cutting capability, but can also be much more frequently useful.
Can you give a good example of such a knife? This tool looks pretty good to me for $12, can be left in the car:

http://www.amazon.com/Car-Hammer-Seatbelt-Emergency-Must-Have/dp/B00CB8WM2S/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
 
mwalsh: If you really want to "go down this road", the "what if"s lead to an endless nightmare of worries, IMHO.
 
MikeD said:
mwalsh: If you really want to "go down this road", the "what if"s lead to an endless nightmare of worries, IMHO.

I've always been a worst case scenario kind of guy, for it's faults (which mostly means more worry than necessary in advance of an event). I don't think anybody is ever going to cure me of that. Of course, it also invariably means that things generally go better than anticipated, with an accompanying feeling of relief! :D
 
Stoaty said:
Nubo said:
The dedicated car tools are uni-taskers and will likely just sit unused forever. A good pocket knife with a carbide tip on the handle will give you the glass-breaking and seatbelt-cutting capability, but can also be much more frequently useful.
Can you give a good example of such a knife? This tool looks pretty good to me for $12, can be left in the car:

http://www.amazon.com/Car-Hammer-Seatbelt-Emergency-Must-Have/dp/B00CB8WM2S/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

http://www.amazon.com/USA-M-1023BK-Marines-Pakkawood-Aluminum/dp/B00DXNXA1C

http://www.amazon.com/Buck-753-Redpoint-Rescue-Knife/dp/B007ZXYT2A

http://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-Triage-Seatbelt-Breaker-Sharpener/dp/B00NKLCL9E
 
Nubo said:
Stoaty said:
Nubo said:
The dedicated car tools are uni-taskers and will likely just sit unused forever. A good pocket knife with a carbide tip on the handle will give you the glass-breaking and seatbelt-cutting capability, but can also be much more frequently useful.
Can you give a good example of such a knife? This tool looks pretty good to me for $12, can be left in the car:

http://www.amazon.com/Car-Hammer-Seatbelt-Emergency-Must-Have/dp/B00CB8WM2S/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

http://www.amazon.com/USA-M-1023BK-Marines-Pakkawood-Aluminum/dp/B00DXNXA1C

http://www.amazon.com/Buck-753-Redpoint-Rescue-Knife/dp/B007ZXYT2A

http://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-Triage-Seatbelt-Breaker-Sharpener/dp/B00NKLCL9E


I'll play devils advocate.

I won't debate that a good knife can do all those things and I won't argue that it is more useful but at $2 for cheap ebay knock offs or $17 for 2 of the higher quality looking resqme I think it's advantageous to have the dedicated tool to leave in the car. If you have kids leaving a knife in the car could be a no no. I get that for many people this will be a non issue but also think that if you're using this on yourself after an accident you may not be in the best state to open a folding knife, cut the belt without cutting yourself or to put pressure on the belt so that it can be cut without slipping. The dedicated tools with the blade in the notch that allows you to pull it with one hand and do it without opening it up could be advantageous.

If you're like mwalsh and want to be prepared for anything you should already have that high quality knife in your pocket wherever you go and the one off use tool can be kept in the car.
 
mwalsh said:
MikeD said:
mwalsh: If you really want to "go down this road", the "what if"s lead to an endless nightmare of worries, IMHO.

I've always been a worst case scenario kind of guy, for it's faults (which mostly means more worry than necessary in advance of an event). I don't think anybody is ever going to cure me of that. Of course, it also invariably means that things generally go better than anticipated, with an accompanying feeling of relief! :D
I've always carried a fire extinguisher in the car (plus flares, flashlight/headlight etc.). Never had to use the extinguisher, although I've had it ready at at least two accidents, both roll overs, one with leaking gas and the other potentially a grass fire. In the first one, the driver had been ejected out his open side window (drinking, wasn't wearing a seat belt), and judging by his blown pupils and the pool of blood under the back of his head, if he'd burned it would have been post-mortem. Just stupid, as his car (a Cosworth Vega) was still running and in good shape (roof intact) even though upside down, and I reached in and shut it off when I got there.

In the other one, wound up cutting someone's separate shoulder belt using a pocket knife (an elderly man, hanging upside down and having some breathing difficulty), but left him in situ with the lap belt holding him in place, as the fire department was arriving shortly and I didn't want to do any damage removing him. Hadn't considered glass breaking beyond using the fire extinguisher (steel tank), but these suggestions look like a good thing to have for self rescue.

Did I mention I'd been a Boy Scout and then Scoutmaster? :D
 
minispeed said:
Nubo said:
Stoaty said:
Can you give a good example of such a knife? This tool looks pretty good to me for $12, can be left in the car:

http://www.amazon.com/Car-Hammer-Seatbelt-Emergency-Must-Have/dp/B00CB8WM2S/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

http://www.amazon.com/USA-M-1023BK-Marines-Pakkawood-Aluminum/dp/B00DXNXA1C

http://www.amazon.com/Buck-753-Redpoint-Rescue-Knife/dp/B007ZXYT2A

http://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-Triage-Seatbelt-Breaker-Sharpener/dp/B00NKLCL9E


I'll play devils advocate.

I won't debate that a good knife can do all those things and I won't argue that it is more useful but at $2 for cheap ebay knock offs or $17 for 2 of the higher quality looking resqme I think it's advantageous to have the dedicated tool to leave in the car. If you have kids leaving a knife in the car could be a no no. I get that for many people this will be a non issue but also think that if you're using this on yourself after an accident you may not be in the best state to open a folding knife, cut the belt without cutting yourself or to put pressure on the belt so that it can be cut without slipping. The dedicated tools with the blade in the notch that allows you to pull it with one hand and do it without opening it up could be advantageous.

If you're like mwalsh and want to be prepared for anything you should already have that high quality knife in your pocket wherever you go and the one off use tool can be kept in the car.

Good points especially regarding children, but regarding cutting yourself, many of these knives have recessed belt-cutters built-in to the handle. No worry about slipping or opening.
 
All ways best to have a dedicated tool, that way you will not be tempted to use it and forget it out side of a car, if you never use it coun't your self lucky, I have a sprinkler system in my house, I'll be very very very happy if it never gets used! but if it does I'll be happier yet I had put one in!
 
I have one in the center console. It is easily accessible by everyone and more reliable in case of an accident.
 
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