Safety Gear-what do you carry

[smurfslayer]

I don’t either, but it’s not limited to bolt cutters. My point was only to remind folks to check for obscure little felonies like this one while kitting out your must haves.

 

[zemuron99]

Interesting stuff, all. I do have a tow-strap (hard to remember everything off the top) and also carry waterproof matches and chemical hand-warmers in the winter months or if going into the mountains. That VA law about bolt-cutters is...sobering. I usually carry a set whenever I have the chains with me in case a cross-link breaks and I need to cut out a damaged section. Never thought about how LE might interpret it. I may be able to explain having it that way, but certainly not if un-chained in the summer months. Hence it and the chains travel as a package.

Z-killer, the quick-clot and tourniquets are great ideas. I'll look into those. I haven't seen many severe traumas, but I want to be prepared for the worst case scenario. I'm not so sure about the sutures, w/out some training/practice that may be outside my comfort zone. I'd try my best w/the towels, sponges, and tourniquet, just about anything else before pulling out the sewing kit.

If LE considers bolt cutters worth a felony, wonder how they'd see the truckers friend...looks like a deadly weapon to me. But something along those lines or a spring punch to break a window in an emergency is probably a good idea as well.

SIlverBolt, I had that need taken care of years ago...not gonna get any surprises, but not a bad idea for protection from the other nasties running around out there . Don't wanna invite any new 'friends' into your system. I work in a hospital ICU...I've seen the ravages they can cause, and it ain't pretty. Or, taking a lifetime of meds to keep the infection at bay. Not my idea of fun either.

 

[zombiekiller]

My pocket knife is a SARK variant with a glassbreaker and seatbelt cutter on it. Its also bright orange. IIRC its a benchmade. if spring assisted is cool in your state, take a look. its also a non-pointed serrated blade.

RE tourniquets and quickclot, winching issues, gunshots, car accidents, dog's ear injuries, the list goes on and on. These things are incredibly useful on the highway and outdoors. I've seen a winch line snap and the subsequent laceration would have been life-ending if not for a tourniquet.

I used to keep a bag of flour in my dog's med kit. ( old farmers trick to keep a dogs ear injury/laceration from causing a bleed out. I now use a pet friendly version of quickclot for that purpose.

I do not recommend suturing without medical training. I carry a full med bag due to being trained in emergency/first aid and field trauma response over the years as a reserve sheriff's deputy. (which i no longer have the time to participate as, unfortunately).

My trucker's friend stays mounted in my bed next to a fire extinguisher, jack extension and shovel/axe. I'd be a little nervous about it in VA, especially if i forgot my LE ID.

 

[zemuron99]

I do not recommend suturing without medical training. I carry a full med bag due to being trained in emergency/first aid and field trauma response over the years as a reserve sheriff's deputy. (which i no longer have the time to participate as, unfortunately).

My trucker's friend stays mounted in my bed next to a fire extinguisher, jack extension and shovel/axe. I'd be a little nervous about it in VA, especially if i forgot my LE ID.

I certainly second the notion of no suturing w/out training. Glad you have the training for it, and thanks for your service in LE. Along that line, if you were on duty and a driver had a 'truckers friend' out, what would your response be (assuming you're NOT being threatened w/it), if you just happen to see it in the aftermath of an incident where it was used to break a window, or cut seatbelts etc? Or if you saw it in and amongst the other items in his/her 'emergency kit'?

 

[Frank N]

I’m just going to throw this out there to suggest everyone be mindful of what you’re carrying

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter5/section18.2-94/

This has been pretty broadly interpreted to “mean what the government wants it to mean”. I know this because an acquaintance of a friend who was in a collision with injury. They were taken to the hospital, vehicle towed, but inventoried first. I think it was bolt cutters that made the issue a “thing”. Actually, it was a VSP trooper lacking capacity for independent thought that made it a thing, but you get the idea. Just be mindful that you’re not carrying something that could make life difficult for you.

My cop buddy saw my filet knife in my truck a few years ago, I fish often, and he said get that out of here and put it in a tackle box. A stand alone straight 8" blade will get you in trouble quick in NJ. My state sucks.

 

[Frank N]

As for equipment, a second spare.

 

[SilverBolt]

My cop buddy saw my filet knife in my truck a few years ago, I fish often, and he said get that out of here and put it in a tackle box. A stand alone straight 8" blade will get you in trouble quick in NJ. My state sucks.

Fixed blade knives are treated almost like a firearm. Old tackle box with some old fishing gear will keep you out of trouble. Just like carrying a baseball bat, you better also have a ball and glove to go with it.

 

[zombiekiller]

I certainly second the notion of no suturing w/out training. Glad you have the training for it, and thanks for your service in LE. Along that line, if you were on duty and a driver had a 'truckers friend' out, what would your response be (assuming you're NOT being threatened w/it), if you just happen to see it in the aftermath of an incident where it was used to break a window, or cut seatbelts etc? Or if you saw it in and amongst the other items in his/her 'emergency kit'?

my context might be a little different based on my geography.

If i saw it as part of an emergency/recovery kit in a truck, i wouldnt think twice. 10/10 life-long louisiana residents roll with emergency gear 24/7.

if i came up on the scene of a crash or incident and saw someone cutting a seatbelt with it, id be more worried about the occupant's condition than the good samaritan.

if i saw ANYONE standing with it in hand next to a broken window, you betcha I'm investigating closely to find out what is going on.

that being said, i'd do the same thing when i came upon ANYONE next to a broken window.


now, if it was a traffic stop and i caught it within reach of the driver, said driver is coming out of the vehicle immediately.


different PDs have different policies, but if you have a tool secured in an obvious emergency kit, secured in the bed with recovery tools, etc. it is kind of common sense as to what the intent is. but then again, no one ever said that every law was influenced by common sense, hence that glorious bit of code quoted previously in the thread.

 

[FordPerf Addict]

Fixed blade knives are treated almost like a firearm. Old tackle box with some old fishing gear will keep you out of trouble. Just like carrying a baseball bat, you better also have a ball and glove to go with it.

Does this law apply in Michigan too?


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[OPT PRIME]

AAA card, sat phone and a Glock. Pretty much covers it all.