******SAFETY NOTICE******
One of the traditional services provided to the motoring public by Police Agencies and tow truck operators involves assisting those operators who unwittingly lock their keys inside their vehicles.

Several types of devices are on the market which allow an officer, or tow truck operator, to unlock the vehicle by sliding a metal rod, commonly known as a "slim jim", between the door window and frame in order to access the control rods which unlock the door lock and handle. Once unlocked, the owner can enter the vehicle and retrieve the keys. Many devices have successfully been used for this purpose, including the well known coat hanger.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, the following Officer Safety notice was received at our Clifton Park, NY D&H District office via the New York Statewide Police Information Network.

*****MOTOR VEHICLE ALERT***** *****CAUTION*****
While attempting to gain entry to a vehicle with side impact airbags in a lockout, at least three Law Enforcement Officials have been killed using a Slim Jim Device. Inadvertent deployment of the airbag can cause the slim jim to be launched upward with great force. The force is strong enough to cause the device to penetrate the chin of the person attempting to access the vehicle, after which it can continue on to become lodged in the brain.

Even when lockout assistance efforts do not prove to be deadly, the damage costs can be significant and may include thousands of dollars for replacement of the dashboard, which is designed to breakaway so as not to harm the driver or front passenger. The wiring for many of these side impact airbags is not shielded in any way, so a car opening tool can easily damage the wiring, causing malfunction or possible deployment of the airbag.

Employees who find themselves in a situation where they need to get into a locked vehicle should be aware of the possible danger of deployment of the airbags for their own safety as well as the safety of others.