This topic comes up periodically, and here is my opinion, which is supported by the EMT's with whom I used to work.
A knife is a poor emergency extraction tool. Think: you cut the seatbelt on the un- (or semi-)conscious person. Then, what do you do with the knife? Fold it up and put it back in your sheath? Stick it in your pocket open, risking the chance that you will (depending on pocket chosen) revise your circumcision, or mar the beautiful artistry
of the tatoo on your buttock that says, 'Firemen do it until the fire is OUT'?
If you must choose a knife for this purpose, use the S&W 911 First response knife. It has a blunt tip, fully serrated blade, and a tungsten carbide spring loaded penetrator in the hilt, for breaking tempered glass. It is pretty much a POS, actually, but will work.
My choice of implement for emergency extraction is a pair of trauma shears. They cost $6 to $8, and are the large scissors you see the EMT's carrying around. The tips are blunt, and angled about 30 degrees at the pivot point. After using these, you CAN stick them anywhere handy without concern for harm. These shears will cut through light sheet metal. One further advantage is that you are much less likely to make a semiconscious person combative if you bend over him with a pair of scissors, rather than a knife, in your hand.
As always, your comments, criticisms, or questions are welcomed. Walter Welch MD, Diplomate, American Board of Emergency Medicine
