Reddit reviews resqme The Original Keychain Car Escape Tool, Made in USA (Black) - Pack of 2

(Volunteer) Firefighter here.

I have a different kind of answer for you.


The most important things to keep in your car are ways to get you OUT of it in case of an emergency, and supplies to keep you IN it in case of a different kind of emergency.

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For getting OUT, you want to keep a seatbelt cutter and window breaker in your vehicle.

One of the most common ways we see people trapped in their vehicles are due to (1) being unable to undo their seat belt, or (2) not being able to break their window.

You can get [a cheap tool called the resqume] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IDYKQO/) for about $15, which is a keychain-sized window breaker and seatbelt cutter combo. I keep one on every keychain I own, as well as in the glovebox of my vehicle.

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For staying IN your vehicle (i.e. in case of a breakdown, run out of gas, etc...), keep a "bug-out bag" in your trunk/backseat.

Put flashlight(s), batteries, a hand-crank radio, a power converter (so you can plug regular shit into your car), some non-perishable food/snacks (protein bars are highly recommended), and a blanket.

Also, keep an old cell phone charged and ready to go in there, as any cell phone will ALWAYS be able to dial 911 (even if you no longer pay for service for that phone).

Another good thing to keep in there is a portable power bank (or a couple of them), in case you need to recharge your devices and your car/battery dies. Just be sure to re-charge them every couple of months if you don't use them.

This way, if you are stuck in your car for a long period of time, you can even sleep in it if need be and wait for help.

The safest glass breakers to use are key chain ones. Because you aren't swinging your arm at glass you are trying to break. This is what I leave in my car:

https://www.amazon.com/resqme-Original-Keychain-Escape-Black/dp/B000IDYKQO


If you want to leave a knife with a glass breaker in your car what I carry is a $50 CRKT M16-12ZLEK.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050V5KWW

There are a lot of cheap $10 glass breaker knives out there but they use the handle steel to form a glass breaker. I would not rely on them to easily break glass. Edit: especially not from inside my car sitting in the driver seat.

I recently bought this to attach to my keychain, it has a seatbelt cutter and window breaker.

https://www.amazon.com/resqme-Original-Keychain-Escape-Orange/dp/B000IDYKQO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1519872569&sr=8-4&keywords=resqme&th=1

Or one of these.

Here you go

Am Canadian, carried a pocket knife for years too, but my seat belt cutter/window breaker tool is attached to my keychain.

thank you officer. be safe.
edit: this amazon link says the product weights 1.4 ounces (40g). is this true?

Ever since the Tax Day Floods, I have equipped both sets of car keys with an escape tool. This device contains a seat belt cutter and a glass punch which makes escape much easier. Watching that woman in the SUV at Westpark and Post Oak and then finding out later that she died was the turning point for me.

Amazon link

Or you could carry a tool that exists for this purpose.

https://www.amazon.com/resqme-Original-Keychain-Escape-Black/dp/B000IDYKQO/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1517633296&sr=1-4&keywords=glass+breaker

If it's an emergency call, then you not being licensed wouldn't matter. You can listen to the radio unlicensed without problem, just can't transmit (talk). You'll probably look into HAM on some level eventually since you're preparedness-minded. If you're up in the mountains, and you have the range, it would make sense to look into.

The decent jump packs I've seen range from $150 upward. I can't vouch for any under those price ranges. If that's a bit high for you right now, I completely understand.

The Resqme tool is very affordable and lightweight. You can attach it to your key ring, or hang it from your rear view mirror.