Emergency hammer
An emergency hammer or rescue hammer is a simple device for rescuing and rescuing yourself in traffic accidents . The purpose of the emergency hammer is to be able to smash panes of toughened safety glass (rear and side windows) relatively safely in an emergency in order to enable escape or rescue from a danger area.
The emergency hammer usually consists of a plastic body with hand protection, to which a steel tip, a hammer or similar is attached. Emergency hammers can be found in every bus and other public transport, the red devices that are installed between the windows in the vehicle are particularly well known. Sometimes steel tips such as those used in emergency hammers are integrated into other tools, such as B. flashlights or knives . These devices usually also have belt knives. The predecessor model of the now known emergency hammer was T-shaped and also had a plastic handle, but had a metal tip at both ends. However, this model has not been installed in buses and the like for over 20 years.
In the fire service emergency hammers are rarely used, here are spring grains or glass saw preferred.
Emergency hammers are often stolen because they are also hung in unsupervised places. Newer models are often attached with a wire to prevent spontaneous taking away. The wire is on a spool so that it is ensured that the hammer can be removed from the holder several meters in an emergency. In addition to theft, a perpetrator is also liable to prosecution for misusing emergency calls and impairing accident prevention and emergency aid .
Emergency hammer in the car
Carrying an emergency hammer in the car is voluntary. In an emergency, the occupants can free themselves from a trapped vehicle. The rescue hammer is mainly used in cars when the car has rolled over, the doors are so badly damaged that they cannot be opened or the vehicle is under water.
When using an emergency hammer in a car, an attempt should always be made to hit the lower edge of the window. The discs break more easily at these points than in the middle and at the top.
Ideally, there is a belt knife on the emergency hammer that can be used to free yourself from the seat in an emergency. If the belt jams, it is almost impossible to get off without tools.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Road safety experts : Have an emergency hammer with an integrated belt knife ready to hand . In: www.verbaende.com. German Associations Forum, February 13, 2002, accessed on April 18, 2020 .