Abstract: A safety device for restraining and deflating an airbag. The safety device 10 is intended to be used by rescue personnel at vehicle accident scenes to prevent the risk of injury to rescue personnel and/or an accident victim from an inadvertent deployment of a vehicle's driver's side self-inflating restraint, commonly referred to, and referred to herein, as an airbag. The safety device 10 is securable to a conventional steering wheel 12 and provides a rigid barrier between the steering wheel 12 and a rescuer or accident victim. The safety device 10 includes a rigid, shield member 15, having a front 17 side and a back side 18. At least one cutting member 20 for rupturing the airbag upon deployment is disposed on the back side 18 of the shield member 15. A cage member 30 depends from the back side 18 of the shield member 15 and receives a first portion 32 of the steering wheel 12.

Abstract: A vehicle accident rescue tool, constructed so as to lift and pull a steering column vertically and horizontally. The rescue tool (10) includes a base (12), a base arm (14) carried by base (12) and, preferably, disposed at a substantially right angle to base (12). Base arm (14) includes a distal end (16) that carries a first actuator anchor point (18) and a stabilizer anchor point (20). Stabilizer anchor point (20) provides a point of attachment for a first detention cable (22) for securing the distal end (16) to a selected point on the vehicle frame. A lifting arm (36) is pivotally attached to base arm (14) and spaced apart from base (12) a selected distance. The distal end (38) of lifting arm (36) carries a second actuator anchor point (40) and an additional anchor point (42). In use, rescue tool (10) is placed on the vehicle with base (12) proximate the steering column and, preferably, positioned over a portion of the vehicle capable of supporting a load.