Glass saw
The glass saw is a rescue tool from the fire brigade's needs for technical assistance , which is used for sawing open laminated safety glass , mostly windshields of motor vehicles. The tool is a combination of hammer and saw , often a spring punch is inserted into the handle of the glass master .
application
With the hammer-shaped side of the glass saw, a hole is first made in the window to create access for the saw blade, or an existing gap is used directly, which is created by cutting the A-pillar . Then with the saw blade - with backward-facing teeth, thereby throwing the glass splinters outwards - the pane is cut. The spring center punch is used to smash the side windows safely.
In practice
The main disadvantage of the glass saw is that it creates very fine glass dust, which can easily get into eyes, wounds and through inhalation into the lungs and cause damage there. This is why some fire departments are now again tending to use the sheet metal ripper instead of the glass saw , as this causes larger fragments that are easier to keep under control. In addition, you should try to saw as little laminated glass as possible. Alternative rescue techniques, such as the “large side opening” or “tunneling” through the rear, can avoid removing the roof (the most common reason for sawing the windscreen).
Pendulum jigsaws ("reciprocating saws") are also being used more and more in the area of patient-oriented accident rescue . When sawing laminated safety glass with these, however, as already mentioned above, under certain circumstances, attention should be paid to the formation of glass dust and the emergency services ( dust masks ) and patients (foil, etc.) should be adequately protected from this risk. The glass dust can also be largely bound with applied water or shaving foam, but this in no case exempts from the protective measures.
Web links
- http://www.glasmaster.com/ - Glas-Master website (English)
- http://www.weber.de/wr/de/rettungsgeraete/glasmanagement.php - Glass management case (German)