Ive seen a few different ways that a hood can be opened at different times during different incidents.  For instance prying it open with a haligan or just simply poping the hood latch from inside the car like you normally would and also cutting a triangle in the hood to get at the hood latch when the front ends to damaged.

 

Looking to find if there are other ways people have been trained to open a hood or a way they prefer to use when opening a hood?

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All the Columbus rescue guys taught everyone at the academy to break out the grill, and twist the wire wit the fork end of your haligan. Worked pretty good on extrication day.
For quick and easy access to the engine compartment, swing the pick of the halligan into a front corner and pry up. Works really well, but leaves the hood destroyed, so use discretion on when to use it.
Another important point is that, not all hoods latch in the front and hinge in the back. Just food for thought. Never had any experience with the style that hinges in the front, does anybody have any good suggestions?
p.s. I'm not trying to highjack the thread, just thought it was important.
I have always found it easier to break out the grill and go for the wire on the latch, either with the forked end of your halligan or a pair of pliers or other gripping style tool. This is of course done after pulling the hood latch, "try before you pry".
If you have a fire of any size under the hood we like to shove a piercing nozzle through a head light and knock it down before we open the hood.
The problems involved with pulling the cables, if a fire has been burning long or hot enough, the plastic parts holding it together melt. Considering that, the easiest and quickest way to attack an engine compartment fire is, go through the hood, right through the top. Using the pick of either the Halogan or Pick head ax, drive a couple holes about three inches apart, then use the wide end to make one big hole, out of the two small ones, then flood the compartment from above. The hood will be destroyed, but car fires usually total in no time any way. Once the fire is knocked, smoke clears, then open by prying the latch.
pry the centre of the hood (bonnet?) with the fork end of the halligan, than either grab the latch with the fork and end twist it to break it free or cut the latch with a big set of bolt cutters. The bolt cutters are quicker and easier, even counting the time spent sending a probie to go get them!
heres one for you if the latch is really stuck and you dont have a K12 saw use you hooli to pry a gap by the hinge of the hood and using large and i mean large bolt cutters you can snip the supporting arms and bend the hood towards the front bumper and it will snap the locking mech out of place it is a bit of a last resort but it is quite effective .as too the front opening hoods this is very effective for them as it allows you to remove the hood in its entirety
Recently, I participated in an advance auto extrication class. The techniques taught were "what can you do when plan A doesn't work". One of the most interesting techniques taught was for gaining entry into the hood or trunk. Typically, first is the "Try before you pry", then resort to a haligan to bend corners to gain access. As an additional tool we now use a 8" metal cutting circular saw, with a metal cutting carbide tip bid. NO SPARKS! Cuts are made in parallel to the bumpers approx. 12"-18" back from the seam of the hood or trunk. We are not able to get into the compartments in seconds rather than what could possibly take minutes in order to secure a vechicle and disable electrical system(s) to allow for safe removal of a patient.
Probie for President???
Reciprocating saw works wonders, especially if its battery powered. Either cut around the latch, or right thru it. Have been using this technique for last few years and works great, quick, and is not labor intensive. But also remember see if you can use the release inside (when applicable) basic FF "try before you pry". Stay safe out there all.
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EGH-DTRT
we have a piercing nosel with sharp end that can be drove thurogh the hood or the grill & radiator.
Every manufacturer and even sometimes every model is different. One way I have found that works some of the time is lifting the front edge with the Halligan just enough to get at the cable that releases the latch, then cutting the cable with a bolt cutter or cable cutter. That usually frees the latch.

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