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What is your best and worst tools for removing a windshield during extrication?
What Tools have you and your Dept. used for removing a windshield from a vehicle during extrications?
Which tools work the best? - Why?
Which are the worst? - Why?
any other thoughts?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bryon Stoll on
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Thank You Everyone for the great response, we currently use axe or a reciprocating saw, I have to agree that the axe is my personal preference. I have been looking for "A BETTER WAY" that doesnt leave such a dangerous mess. in most cases the windscreen does not need to be removed however when the need arises Why should we need to make the mess and potential injuries. we also try to have one of our EMS members in the vehicle with the PT covered with a blanket.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Oomkes on
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Color me chicken, so I let John answer this. lol
Have to agree with this if you want speed. Faster than the Glassmaster, at least for me. Blade doesn't get caught and crap doesn't fly back at you as was said.
Besides, what firefighter doesn't have an axe handy?
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Permalink Reply by Alex, Ossendorf on
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I aggree on the glass saw.
But also try if u have it the "Big cann opener" dont know the english word. it is normally ment to cut thin metal.
I will place a pic soon!!
Really fast and no dust!!
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Hmmm, fire monkeys.
Guess I deserved that one. lol
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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Best....Glass saw or tool designed for the task......worst...? Well using the body of an ejected victim to hurl through it might be called poor taste....
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Permalink Reply by GWENDOLYN BARNETT on
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I like the good ol' fashioned axe...less dust
worst: saws
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Byron....use a sheet of clear contact paper.....peel the backing stick it over the glass and go to work....will keep the glass intact and cut down on the dust......
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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The contact paper technique doesn't work on glass that is wet, icy, or dirty.
We don't waste our time on it - the high humidity here makes it useless.
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For those of you who like using an axe on the windshield, here's another option - the ARFF crash axe.
This is the smaller, one-handed version but the larger two-handed ones work just as well. Don't use the serrated ones - the smooth blades work fine. They make longer cuts per swing than a regular fire axe. The way the blades round down to the handle helps prevent burying the axe head inside the windshield.
These come with a rocker-style prying tip on the pick. I milled mine down to a 4-point punch. If you put a long spineboard against the inside of the A-posts before taking the windshield, it helps shield the patient. With the spineboard in place, the punch can be used to pop the rear-view mirror off the windshield so that it can't pop off explosively and hurt the patient later in the windshield removal.
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Permalink Reply by Shareef Abdu Nur on
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We have always used axes to remove windshields and have never had a problem, but then again we do not remove windshields on a regular enough basis for me to pretend to be an expert.
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Permalink Reply by joemac on
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I feel that the best tool is an axe.
Why? Well, because it is.
The worst tool is a banana. A ripe banana.
Why? Because it is.
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Permalink Reply by Lee Huff on
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One thing we do to further reduce the dust is to have one man spraying the blade with soapy water(we keep a pump sprayer in each rescue truck beside the Sawzall)while a second runs the saw. This not only cuts down on the dust, but also provides a non-flammable lubricant for the saw blade.
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