Here's a 3 minute dashboard camera video showing the rescue. My comments after...
First, before anything else, I'm glad to see something positive captured on a dashcam video that portrays a Policeman doing what I love them for. Seems like every other day there's something awful in the news regarding something a Cop has done, and Lord knows I get irritated at some of them in the course of my job.... but the negatives seem to get all the air-time and threaten to block out the work of the vast majority of good Policemen and Policewomen who go about their duty of "Protect and Serve" every single day.
As for the girls in the video, and everyone else reading this - The driver was yakking on her cell phone at the time of the boat ramp adventure. Stupid. Pay attention to where you're going and stay off the damed phone if you can't drive and talk at the same time.
Also, get one of these:
Or something similar. Its a Res-Q-Me tool that has a seatbelt cutter and a push punch style window breaker built in. I've got one in my truck, Ms. Paladin's car, and my Daughter's car. Mine hangs on the door handle of my truck by a lanyard. The lanyard attatchment point is a "break away" style so its easy to get to and use. Retails for about $10. It can make a difference if you have to get yourself, or someone else, out of a jam some day.
Neither of these girls could swim, the water pressure outside the doors made it impossible for them to escaped the sinking car, and they would have drowned within minutes had the Police Officer not been there. Please don't find yourself in this situation and unable to get yourself out of it...
3 comments:
Good advice. Both about the tool and about not talking on a cell phone while driving.
In high school, a bunch of us drove down to one of the local rivers for a late day swim. No alcohol, just a swim. Due to inattention or inexperience, I don't know which, we ended up going into the water in the car, I was in the back seat of a hatchback. The two in front got out real quick, by the time I got over the seat the car was half submerged. Had not the window been already done in the hot summer, I probably would have drowned. Pretty scary. I carry a knife with a handle that would break a window now, but this little device looks MUCH better.
That's a scary situation, to be sure! The window breaker on this tool is great, and the seatbelt cutter is crazy sharp. I like the idea of using it a lot better than a knife, even. That way even with the adrenaline pumping and having to rush - I wouldn't have to worry so much about stabbing myself or someone else trying to get myself (or them) free.
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