Channellock 89 Rescue Tool

The Channellock 89 Rescue Tool is a well-designed and well-forged hand tool that is ergonomic and functional. What it is not is a tool you can carry in your pocket or in a holster on your belt. It is designed to be carried in a turnout coat or bunker pants pocket, or on a ladder belt.

The device has several functions: manual window punch, gas shut-off tool, short-handled pry bar, battery cable cutter, soft metal shears/snips and spanner wrench. The cutting head has a very narrow profile that will allow it to get into tight spaces that some other tools cannot, like a crumpled car hood that you can’t release the latch on but can snake a small tool into to cut the cables. While you don’t have the mechanical advantage or leverage of a small set of bolt cutters, you do have a tool that will get in there and, with a just a little bit of effort, do the same job.
I decided to put the 89 Rescue Tool to the real test and gave it to my service’s vehicle extrication squad to “play” with. To date, we have used it for all of its advertised functions, plus dimpling the roof of a car that we had made the cuts on and were flapping back. Not only was it effective, but it was undamaged and functioned as well afterward as it did before.

The tool has worked equally well in our dry, almost arid, summer conditions, as well in rain, sleet and snow. With just the occasional spray down with WD-40 for maintenance, it has remained as good as new throughout an active rescue season. In short, the Channellock 89 Rescue Tool provides a lot of functions for its weight and size and is worthy for consideration as a good addition to a rescue squad, company or truck company tool kit. Visit www.channellock.com.

Norm Rooker recently retired as chief paramedic for Ouray County EMS in Ouray, CO. He is a frequent contributor to EMS World.

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