I usually don't put up posts advertising a product. But the recent post of a
man burnt to death in his 2 month old Chevy Sail set alarms ringing. I'm a huge safety nut and a certified self defense instructor and also an emergency responder at my office. As a member here, I feel it's our responsibility to share.
This post is my attempt to document all of the safety/convenience precautions I take while traveling or just while out and about. It will be in multiple parts. This first part focusing on how to exit a locked car.
Being trapped in a car.
With the rise of control-by-wire tech, it's very easy to get stuck in a vehicle if there is an electric/electronic malfunction. However a few simple points will help you stay alive and/or save lives.
- The most important thing is to remain calm. Time is of the essence and it slows down when you calm down. Control your breathing - Think clearer.
- Be prepared. I cannot stress this enough. Being prepared is the key to facing any challenge.
Part of my preparation involved having a Kubotan in my car. A Kubotan works as a force multiplier impact weapon. However, in our case, this has a higher purpose. It can break glass. Effectively and easily.
There are multiple products in the market which can break glass and even using a removed headrest. But I like to keep it simple so that I know it will work during an emergency.
This is important because not all cars have removable headrests. Even if it did, holding a headrest and being able to apply adequate force to break glass is quite difficult.
A kubotan on the other hand is extremely easy to use and effective. It's just a piece of metal after all. Tactical Pens are basically Kubotans with a refill. Which is why I replaced mine with one.
Specifically this $5 tactical pen from ebay. Bringing us to the star of today's show.
This is a clone of the UZI Tactical Defender. Works just as well at a fraction of the cost. After all, it's just a glorified piece of aluminium in HAIII Black anodized finish with a refill inside. Anyone with a lathe can get really close to making a similar one. Albeit without the bells and whistles.
The pen, when held in an ice-pick position, can be used to strike and shatter glass easily.
The gripped surface and the clip ensures that your hand doesn't slip while striking. You don't even need to put much effort. If you can lift your arm, you can break glass. This is really important and ensures that even a child can use it in times of emergency. The tip is sharp enough to break glass, but blunt enough that it doesn't snag on clothes or hurt you while normal use.
Once the glass is broken, it is important to quickly clean the shards from the edges before exiting. Wrap your hands in cloth. Be careful not to cut your hands while doing this. If you do, quickly administer first aid once you're safely outside the vehicle.
I bought three from this seller. Highly Recommended.
Please carry one in your car in an easily accessible location. If not break glass, you can use it to take notes or whatever else a pen may serve. This accepts regular Parker
style refills or a Fisher Space Pen refills with its included adapter. (The refill comes with the adapter. Not the pen.)
Slightly off-topic - If you choose to carry this in your glove compartment, ensure that it is clean and arranged. I cannot even begin to describe some of the dirtiest and messy glove compartments I've seen. Remember, you will have to grab this during an emergency. Make sure its accesible.
The important part of this post ends here. Read ahead if you like EDC.
At any given point, I have the following things in my car:
1. A flashlight with spare batteries.
I use a custom built Cree XML2-U2 Pill in an Orange Peel Reflector, housed in a Solarforce L2M Host. Runs on Fenix 18650 Batteries. Puts out 860 OTF Lumens on High.
I have added an optional tailcap with crenellations. This helps the light tailstand and can also be used to break glass if needed.
2. A Swiss Army Knife or Full Size Leatherman.
These things being so cheap nowadays, it's a crime not to have one in your car. I carry a Victorinox Explorer and a Leatherman Wingman. I also EDC a Victorinox Pioneer Alox. And there is a Leatherman Wave in my backpack if I'm carrying one.Yes, I'm mental like that.
3. A knife.
Yes, I know the SAK has a knife. But a dedicated knife has it's uses. My favorite pocket carry is the Spyderco UKPK.
My usual rotation includes this, a Spyderco Paramilitary II, A Sebenza 21 Small, A Buck Mayo, A Smith and Wesson Extreme Ops Tanto and an Opinel No:8
4. First Aid Kit.
No, the one that comes free with your car is not enough. I am willing to bet that most of us haven't even bothered to open it and check what's all in there. And if the perishable items are all within their expiry dates.
Build a decent First-Aid box. There are several online articles that can help. I will write about building a decent First-Aid Box in a later post.
5. Fire Extinguisher.
Get a general purpose one that can handle most types of fires. I have the powder type.
See here for tips.
6. A Kubotan or other glass breaking tool. Keep it simple.
Now replaced with the tactical pen.
7. About 100ft of 550 Paracord.
I have found so many used for paracord that it's impossible to list here. If you think it's just rope, think again. Google will do justice.
I even wear about 10ft of it as a bracelet.
There are many other items you can carry in your car. But these help a lot.
It is also good to get into a planned EDC setup.
This is my keyring. I carry this all the time. At office, movies, restaurants etc. No issues whatsoever. Some keys are added/removed as per need. All my keys have tiny clips on them to attach to this setup.
The SAK is a Victorinox Classic., the flashlight is a Fenix E05. They hang on a Munroe Mega Dangler.
The dangler prevents the keys from bunching up and also helps retrieval. This may sound weird, but I know a lot of people like me, who hate having keys bunch up in the pocket and cause a unsightly mound. Plus no rummaging.
In my next post, I will detail other items its good to have in your person while traveling or just going out.