Battery Cable Cutters

[sq51kmg365]

Does anyone use heavy duty wire cutter pliers to cut battery cables. We use a small bolt cutter, but this sometimes takes a little longer to get the hood open wide enough because of the size of the cutters. One of our guys suggested that we get a heavy duty wire cutter because of the size. I am looking for some comments and if your dept uses something different. I'll attach a photo of the pliers I'm talking about.

[htvfd1426]

That is the type I carry in my gear. If you buy a extrication crash kit from a supplier it normally has this tool included also to answer your question if anyone uses this battery cutter

[txgp17]

That's what my Dept issues for all the tool boxes.

There seems to be an epidemic of cut battery cables at every MVC we run. I've even been on calls where the patient was in the back seat, but the Capt insisted on cutting the cables on a car that had only cosmetic damage.

There's no telling how many thousands of dollars worth of damage my Dept has causes from needless cutting of battery cables.

If you're in the war of a SRS treating/extricating a patient, sure. But otherwise, do no more damage than is necessary.

[hosea3]

We carry the same cutters in a tool belt. They work really well we also carry battery pliers and 7,8,9,and 10mm ratchet wrenches for the hard to get side mounted batteries. You don"t always have to cut but if you do remember to cut twice.

[sq51kmg365]

If we cut a cable on half of the mva's we would be lucky. Usually we don't unless there's a fuel leak. I just wanted to know because the last one we had the guys on the eng had a hard time getting the hood open and like I said before once the got it partialy open they had a hard time releasing the hood lock. We have a small bolt cutter but they grabbed the biggest one off the rescue & used it instead and we run with a small crew on both trucks that we can't be wasting time trying to pop a hood & cut a cable (I know you should always cut it!) where those guys could be doing other more important jobs. We are going to try & get the other depts, whose district we go into for extrication, and have them cut cables & control any fluid leaks, lz, etc. Thanks for the imput

[fireman4949]

Those are the same cable cutters I carry in my bunker pants pocket. Not just for batteries, but any cable, wire, etc. They are great for the wire harness when taking off a car door, and good to have for freeing yourself, should you become entangled inside a structure fire.

[BigRig]

Merely a suggestion...consider ratcheting cable cutters as these are much better for cutting heavier cables such as those found on big rigs, buses, etc.

[Rescue101]

A pair of the pictured item on the Rescue Engine,three pairs(and punches)in my pickup.Those cutters will easily handle any battery cable commonly found on the road today. T.C.

[ROOFIT]

Klein Tools make two tools which I believe are pocket worthy. Both the high leverage cable cutters and the Insulated high leverage side cutters. It's nice knowing the quality is readily available in your pocket.