Fire Marshal Valesky recently received a question from a resident about vehicle escape tools, particularly with newer vehicles that may have laminated side windows.

Most of us have probably seen the small emergency window hammers or spring-loaded punches that are sold for vehicles. They can be very useful, but there is an important limitation: they are intended for tempered glass.

Tempered glass is designed to shatter when struck properly. Laminated glass is different. It consists of layers of glass bonded around a plastic layer, similar to a windshield. A normal window punch can crack laminated glass without actually creating an opening through it.

Triple AAA tested common vehicle escape tools and found that none of the tools they tested could penetrate laminated glass. So the first thing I encourage everyone to do is go outside and actually look at the markings on the side windows of your vehicle. Some vehicles have laminated front side windows but tempered rear side windows, which means your best emergency exit may actually be behind you. 

If your vehicle has tempered side glass, a quality spring-loaded window breaker with a seat-belt cutter can be a worthwhile emergency tool. Keep it secured within reach of the driver, not loose in the trunk or somewhere you may not be able to reach after a collision.

If your vehicle has laminated glass, understand that the little window punch you bought may not get you through it. Specialized laminated-glass cutting tools exist, but they are very different from the inexpensive emergency hammers most people are familiar with.

And if a vehicle enters water, don’t sit inside calling 911 while the vehicle sinks. The priority is getting out. A useful acronym is SWOC: Seatbelts off, Windows open, Out immediately, Children first. Call 911 once you’re safely out.

How residents can tell what kind of glass they have: 

Look at the bottom corner of your driver’s window.

There will generally be a small manufacturer’s marking- look first for an actual word such as LAMINATED, TEMPERED, LAMISAFE, TEMPERLITE, or similar manufacturer terminology. 

First choice: read the wording on the glass.

Second choice: check the owner’s information/manufacturer or dealer.

Don’t assume: that every side window in the same car is constructed the same way.

What to do if the vehicle is submerged or you’re otherwise trapped: 

For a vehicle entering water, SWOC: 

S — Seatbelts off

W — Windows open

O — Out immediately

C — Children first

Occupants generally have their best opportunity to escape during roughly the first minute, while the vehicle is still in its initial floating phase.  Try the electric window immediately. Don’t assume the electrical system instantly dies the moment a vehicle hits water. If it opens, that’s your exit. If it won’t open and that window is tempered, use the escape tool immediately. If that particular side window is laminated, don’t spend your entire escape window repeatedly hammering on it with a tool that isn’t designed for laminated glass. Know in advance whether another accessible window is tempered. And in a water emergency, escape takes priority over calling 911. For a vehicle fire after a crash, the principle is similar: seat belt off/cut if necessary, open a functioning door or window if possible, use the appropriate escape tool if trapped, get everyone away from the vehicle, and call 911.

Tools civilians can actually buy: 

For TEMPERED glass

A spring-loaded punch with an integrated seat-belt cutter. AAA’s testing favored spring-loaded designs over traditional swinging hammers.

For LAMINATED glass

Specialized laminated-glass escape tools do exist and can be purchased by civilians, but they’re significantly larger and more expensive than ordinary window punches. For most motorists, the first and most important step is knowing which windows in their own vehicle are laminated and which are tempered, so they know their intended escape route before an emergency happens.

Whatever escape device someone chooses, secure it within arm’s reach of the seating position.