ResQme – new addition to lifesaving toolbox

This afternoon, Historic City News was invited to a live demonstration of the latest lifesaving tool now available to 150 local law enforcement officers thanks to a generous donation from a local car dealership – Bozard Ford. Deputy Sheriff Jim Weaver, shown here with Mike Shad, owner of Bozard Ford, is seen using the ResQme device which he recently donated to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.

ResQme is a spring loaded device allowing trained first responders to quickly and safely gain entry into a locked or otherwise inaccessible vehicle in an emergency situation. The device is designed to break the side window of a vehicle; eliminating the need to use a nightstick or similar striking device. ResQme automatically resets itself after each use and can be attached to a keychain or carried in an officer’s pants pocket.

Beach Coordinator, Sgt. Steve Briggs, is shown holding the ResQme device. Briggs was one of the first officers to use the ResQme, within the first three days of their arrival in St. Augustine.

Briggs explained to me that he was recently approached by a woman while working a hot, congested area of the beach near Dondanville Road. Her toddler, about 12 months old, became accidentally locked inside her car — she was understandably frantic.

Briggs determined that the closest available locksmith was about 45 minutes away. According to Briggs, the woman gave permission for someone to break the glass and enter the vehicle, but, she was concerned for the safety of her child on the other side. Using conventional striking devices, auto safety glass could still shatter and be forced into the vehicle by the movement of the baton or flashlight; potentially injuring the child. On many occasions, such devices are deflected by the glass and the attempt does not achieve the desired result; allowing emergency entry.

Using his assigned ResQme, Briggs was able to completely shatter the side window with one snap; without making a striking blow to the glass and without causing injury to the child occupant.

Deputy Jim Weaver demonstrated how sharp blows from two different style police batons were ineffective in attempting to shatter the window glass in a car door from a Sheriff’s patrol vehicle that had been damaged and brought into the Bozard shop for repairs. Weaver stated that auto glass shattered by the ResQme drops straight down — the safest method possible. Weaver also informed me that this device will work equally well if the vehicle is submerged under water.

In addition to the snap device used to shatter glass, the ResQme also has a razor sharp tool for slicing through a fastened seatbelt, which may become jammed in an automobile accident.

Media Relations Officer Kevin Kelshaw told me that he would like all 300 to 400 sworn officers and first responders to have a ResQme on the key chain for their emergency vehicle. “They cost about $10.00 each”, Kelshaw said. “When attempting to extract someone trapped inside a locked, burning, or, submerged vehicle — they are priceless”.