Hi, what would be the best knife or blade tool for EMT use?
TIA
Kozak
Hetman of Khukuri Knuts Cavalry
The Terrible Ironic Horde
TIA
Kozak
Hetman of Khukuri Knuts Cavalry
The Terrible Ironic Horde
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Here's what I think. If I was an EMT or LEO, I would have about 5 pounds o' steel on me at all times! You DEFINITELY need something with a sheepsfoot blade, such as the Spyderco Rescure or Cold Steel Land, Sea, Air (something like that). You also need something with a sharp tip, such as a Delica, Endura, AFCK, or Spike. You have no use for a tanto, so throw that idea out immediately. A multi-tool might be a good idea. I don't know too much about which of these is best, though, so I'm not gonna mess with that. I DO know that Mercata.com often has the Leatherman Wave, and with the Mercata bucks you get for your first purchase, it brings it under $30. My mind is reeling with overkill suggesions, so I'll stop here.
Howie
Howie
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Kozac
Most services are just about outlawing knives for EMT use. WAY to easy to do major damage to the Pt. Especially if they are moving (thrashing) around in pain or you are in the back of the bus at 65 or so in rush hour traffic.
A really good pair of the large shears will cut anything you need to cut. If that won't do it the FD is there with the jaws that will cut anything. A good multi-tool will carry you also.
But this my opinion. YMMV. Check with your service before you do anything stupid.
Vampire Gerbel (sp),VG for short, has his opinions also as will several working medics here.
I just finished my training in December and got my numbers two weeks ago. I, however, carried large and small shears, bandage scissors, a SAK, BF Native, Harpy, Wave, Matriarch, and a Cricket moneyclip during training rides and in the ER. Never used anything except the large shears to cut things and the Wave to change out an O2 tank. The services I rode with said no knives around Pts. Other than that they did not have any problems with sharp tools.
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Dwight
It's a fine line between "a hobby" and "mental illness".
Most services are just about outlawing knives for EMT use. WAY to easy to do major damage to the Pt. Especially if they are moving (thrashing) around in pain or you are in the back of the bus at 65 or so in rush hour traffic.
A really good pair of the large shears will cut anything you need to cut. If that won't do it the FD is there with the jaws that will cut anything. A good multi-tool will carry you also.
But this my opinion. YMMV. Check with your service before you do anything stupid.
Vampire Gerbel (sp),VG for short, has his opinions also as will several working medics here.
I just finished my training in December and got my numbers two weeks ago. I, however, carried large and small shears, bandage scissors, a SAK, BF Native, Harpy, Wave, Matriarch, and a Cricket moneyclip during training rides and in the ER. Never used anything except the large shears to cut things and the Wave to change out an O2 tank. The services I rode with said no knives around Pts. Other than that they did not have any problems with sharp tools.
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Dwight
It's a fine line between "a hobby" and "mental illness".
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kozak,
I think the spyderco rescue is a great knife for your needs.
But this topic brings up a question I have been recently pondering. Would a pair of kick a$$ shears be better than a knife?? The way I see it, A knife requires leverage to cut with. A scissor does not. What if you are in a situation where you can only get one arm in to cut a seatbelt. Do you think you could cut a seatbelt with one hand? I don't. But with a scissor you could easily accomplish this. Also, If you have to cut clothes off of someone a serrated blade can snag on material and cause difficulties where once again a good pair of shears would not. I am very interested in hearing opinions on this matter. Thanks.
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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
I think the spyderco rescue is a great knife for your needs.
But this topic brings up a question I have been recently pondering. Would a pair of kick a$$ shears be better than a knife?? The way I see it, A knife requires leverage to cut with. A scissor does not. What if you are in a situation where you can only get one arm in to cut a seatbelt. Do you think you could cut a seatbelt with one hand? I don't. But with a scissor you could easily accomplish this. Also, If you have to cut clothes off of someone a serrated blade can snag on material and cause difficulties where once again a good pair of shears would not. I am very interested in hearing opinions on this matter. Thanks.
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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
Thanks for the replies, guys.
I do owe you an apology for not giving further background on my question.
Now, the background on my question: I am NOT an EMT. My initial question arose between a colleague's EMT husband and myself, as part of a discussion on what equipment an EMT uses with a sidebar discussion on what to have available between the accident time and the arrival of the EMT team. My thinking was just to keep the injured comfortable and ensure that there were no further dangers to their present condition until EMTs arrived to look after them. My concern was what tools to have on hand if there were further dangers to the injured prior to EMT arrival. An assumption was made that having similar tools to that of an EMT would be useful if the situation warranted it. Hence, my question to the forumites.
K.
[This message has been edited by Kozak (edited 01-17-2000).]
I do owe you an apology for not giving further background on my question.
Now, the background on my question: I am NOT an EMT. My initial question arose between a colleague's EMT husband and myself, as part of a discussion on what equipment an EMT uses with a sidebar discussion on what to have available between the accident time and the arrival of the EMT team. My thinking was just to keep the injured comfortable and ensure that there were no further dangers to their present condition until EMTs arrived to look after them. My concern was what tools to have on hand if there were further dangers to the injured prior to EMT arrival. An assumption was made that having similar tools to that of an EMT would be useful if the situation warranted it. Hence, my question to the forumites.
K.
[This message has been edited by Kozak (edited 01-17-2000).]
Been working as a firefighter/EMT for 22 years, and I agree with those that say a large pair of EMT shears is the way to go when it comes to patient care. I also carry a Sypderco Endura partially serrated. It's a tool, and I use it. It also provides a degree of personal protection. I wish I could carry a Glock, there have been times I needed it.
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I have a orange handle Spyderco Rescue Jr., standard EMT-type shears, and a Leatherman SuperTool in my grab bag. In our MFR classes, we were trained to use the shears whenever possible, and then proceed to other tools.
BTW, while speaking of EMT's and cutting, I noticed that the locality we trained through, as well as several others nearby, were equipping most of their trucks with cordless Sawz-All type tools for extrication, as a supplement to the normal J.O.L. Reasoning was that in some situations (ie., no fuel spilling, quicker to use in some cases, and in case of J.O.L failure), they were just as or more effective as the Jaws. I've started looking at my DeWalt reciprocator in a new light. Maybe I'll see if a local junkyard will let me come in for some, uh, "testing".
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Don LeHue
The pen is mightier than the sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.
BTW, while speaking of EMT's and cutting, I noticed that the locality we trained through, as well as several others nearby, were equipping most of their trucks with cordless Sawz-All type tools for extrication, as a supplement to the normal J.O.L. Reasoning was that in some situations (ie., no fuel spilling, quicker to use in some cases, and in case of J.O.L failure), they were just as or more effective as the Jaws. I've started looking at my DeWalt reciprocator in a new light. Maybe I'll see if a local junkyard will let me come in for some, uh, "testing".
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Don LeHue
The pen is mightier than the sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.
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For cutting seat belts, how 'bout a seat belt cutter? It looks like a credit card-style letter opener, except much stronger, w/a finger hole to securely yank it thru belt/webbing. Effective, virtually idiot-proof and impossible to get cut using it. And it costs $3-$5.
Glen
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Glen
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Y2K complacent
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Kozak,
My son is a paramedic and carries a Spyderco Wegner/paritally serrated and an S&W Rescue Knife with the spring loaded window breaker. The S&W cannot be used very well with gloves, however, and heavy gloves are required for extrication work.
For a tool to keep in your car before help arrives you might consider something from Gall's called the Disaster Preparedness Tool for around $13. It can be used to pry, dig, break glass, and shut off water and gas lines. It is supposed to be made of an allow that won't spark. You'll find it in the Fire/Rescue section of their catalogue.
There is usually an old Gall's catalogue lying around most squad rooms.
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Frank Norman
Attitude - The difference between an adventure and an ordeal.
My son is a paramedic and carries a Spyderco Wegner/paritally serrated and an S&W Rescue Knife with the spring loaded window breaker. The S&W cannot be used very well with gloves, however, and heavy gloves are required for extrication work.
For a tool to keep in your car before help arrives you might consider something from Gall's called the Disaster Preparedness Tool for around $13. It can be used to pry, dig, break glass, and shut off water and gas lines. It is supposed to be made of an allow that won't spark. You'll find it in the Fire/Rescue section of their catalogue.
There is usually an old Gall's catalogue lying around most squad rooms.
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Frank Norman
Attitude - The difference between an adventure and an ordeal.
Excellent advice, guys, and thanks!
Kozak
Kozak
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Part of our training was an all day class in extrication. Basically we had a 4 hour class session and all the time it took to completely dismantle two cars.
The "jaws" are nice and for some things are the only thing to use. There is even a new all electric jaws, uses a f15 IIRC flap motor for power. Way cool. no noise. a little lighter than the regular jaws. But a cordless saws-all beats them all. You can take the roof off a car in no time flat with it/ Needless to say we had lots of fun using sharp things that cut.
Oh, we learned a few things also.
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Dwight
It's a fine line between "a hobby" and "mental illness".
The "jaws" are nice and for some things are the only thing to use. There is even a new all electric jaws, uses a f15 IIRC flap motor for power. Way cool. no noise. a little lighter than the regular jaws. But a cordless saws-all beats them all. You can take the roof off a car in no time flat with it/ Needless to say we had lots of fun using sharp things that cut.
Oh, we learned a few things also.
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Dwight
It's a fine line between "a hobby" and "mental illness".