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A frequently overlooked facet of survival and preparedness is dealing with vehicular emergencies. But as anyone in law enforcement, firefighting, and rescue can tell you, people become trapped inside their own cars all the time. You may also find yourself to be the first person on the scene when someone else desperately needs your help.
Even if you are not a first responder by trade, the T3 Tactical Triage & Auto Rescue Tool from StatGear could be a very handy and affordable piece of gear to keep in your vehicle. This multi-tool was designed by practicing New York City paramedic Avi Goldstein. The four main functions of this tool are a combination blade, a hook-style seat belt cutter, a spring-loaded steel-tip window punch, and a five- lumen LED light with replaceable batteries.
The hook blade for cutting seat belts and the half-serrated 3¼-inch blade are both made from 440C stainless steel and have a flat black finish. The knife blade is quite sharp, as is the belt cutter, and both have a thumb stud for one-handed opening from the right side. The knife and seat belt hook lock open thanks to a liner lock mechanism (like most CRKT knives). The seat belt cutter works well. I tested it on the seat belt in an old junk truck. With the belt under tension, a couple tugs with the non-threatening looking hook will slice the belt, especially if you cut on an angle. The five-lumen LED provides just enough light to see about 10 feet in total darkness, and it’s just right for checking pupil dilation, which is a critical assessment in many types of injuries. The light has a convenient access panel for easy battery replacement.
The coolest feature is the spring-loaded firing pin design of the glass breaker. Rather than the unresponsive stub that most tool companies call a “glass breaker,” T3’s is pressed against the glass thereby compressing a spring. When enough pressure is built in the spring, the pin fires breaking the glass. The rubberized grip helps you hold on when pressing on the glass. Again, my family’s derelict truck aided our review–the T3l broke the auto glass on the first try.
This tool features a stainless steel belt clip and a rigid black nylon belt sheath. It weighs 6.4 ounces and retails for $40 on the StatGear website.
Find out more about the T3 tool by visiting statgeartools.com.