Ranger Entry/Exit Tools - a subset of Extrication & Escape

Introduction

Extrication refers to the process of removing a victim from a collapsed structure, whether natural or artificial . Examples include: motor vehicles, buildings, infrastructure, or natural disaster such as flood, mudslide, hurricane or tornado.
Escape refers to the process by which an individual or group of persons attempt to avoid a confrontation with disaster. The scenarios may often be the same as Extrication scenarios.

Entry/ Exit Tools are devices that aid in the process of creating a path between the rescuer and the victim or between the victim ( escapee) and safe haven. In addition, certain tools are intended to aid the professional with the process of containing property damage and risk to life.
Since physical obstructions are common in blocking the way- primitive tools such as axes, lever bars, rakes and hammers are effective in breaking down doors, windows, ceilings, walls and floors as well as to stem the expansion of a life threatening element such as fire or flood. For the professional rescuer, the ability to mitigate catastrophic escalation of damage is also important. For this reason the toolset of the fireman or other rescue professional include the ability to turn off gas, water and electric mains. In the case of some of these tools , they may me multifunctional allowing an axe to also be a lever and a valve shut-off tool.

Ranger Entry/Exit Tools - a subset of Extrication & Escape

Description
The Ranger Entry/Exit Tool is a one piece tool for police , armed forces and search & rescue use. It's relatively light weight and simple design, also makes it an excellent personal axe and entry/escape tool
Designed with a balance between weight and functional capabilities, it's designed primarily for the US Army as well as Firefighters and EMS crews. Capabilities that have been tested by the Army and are listed as follows:

-Breaching Doors Pad locks
-Windows in a break and rake situation
-Suspended sealing
-Man hole covers
-Car doors and windows
-Gas Shut off valves

The Ranger Entry/Exit Tool can be used for any and all prying needs as well as hammering and chopping. It has also chopped through cinder blocks, mild steel and countless wood products.

Specifications:
Overall Length 18"
Head Width: 6"
Blade Length: 3"
Thickness: .25" Carbon Steel: S7
Handle Length: 15"
Finish: Wrinkle coat
Temper - RC: 58-60
Retail Price- $149.95 

Sales Source: http://www.knifecenter.com

Task Performance Optimization
We took the Ranger Entry/Exit Tool to the Hurricane damaged St Bernard Parish region of Louisiana for the clean up effort. It performed admirably as a pry-bar and axe- easily removing doors from storm ravaged homes and separating floor boards for searches. While not a perfect drywall rake, the axe-side hook was nonetheless effective in tearing apart walls. Though not a full time substitute for larger or heavier entry or demolition tools, Ranger Entry/Exit Tool still proved itself to be a handy supplement to larger or heavier tools. In the case of the emergency Go-Bag, the Ranger Entry/Exit Tool is ideal as an all purpose tool for both rescuer as well as escapee.

Usability & Human Factors
The Ranger Entry/Exit Tool has just the right amount of heft combined with balance to be a formidable light structure smasher and yet is light enough in total to be unnoticeable in a Go-Bag. The top wedge geometry is ideal for breaching the average residential door. Coupled with a couple of strategic hits from the axe-head at the door near the handle or lock, the Ranger Entry/Exit Tool can breech most household wooden doors with little effort. We cannot vouch for it's effectiveness against commercial fortified metal doors and door frames and jambs. The good news is that with care in not severing electrical wires, it would be easier to apply the full force of the Ranger Entry/Exit Tool for exit via a wall or ceiling, rather than expend too much time or energy trying to breech fortified commercial doors with it.
We also evaluated its usefulness in deep woods scenarios and found that the Ranger Entry/Exit Tool makes a handy back-woods companion as well. It easily chops seasoned wood for fires or harvests saplings for makeshift shelters or emergency litters.
The only issues we had with the Ranger Entry/Exit Tool were that the handle prefers a gloved hand for comfort and control and the electrical and thermal conductivity of the tool make it less than ideal for certain situations.

Sheath. The Ranger Entry/Exit Tool is furnished with a heavy duty nylon sheath that is velcro looped to allow for secure attachment to any webbing of up to 2" in width. Two massive flaps secure the axe inside the sheath. After releasing these two flaps , a quick pull on the pry end and the Ranger Entry/Exit Tool is easily removed from its sheath for quick deployment. There are no snaps or other trim features to snag or fail.