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to SureFire,
August 20, 2008 |
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TRUE STORIES |
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A Matter of Life, Thanks to SureFire
Most of us have been in emergency situations that were a matter of life or death. Read how SureFire helped tip the balance in these exciting tales.
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Older SureFire Still Shines Brightly
Three friends and I were hiking at night through a mountain region in Northeast Mexico. While heading up to a high plain to establish our campsite, we were passed by two mountain bikers riding uphill. After 15 minutes, one of the cyclists came running back down the mountain on foot, saying his friend had slipped and ridden off the steep roadside, and he couldn’t find him in the dark.
We ran for 10 minutes until we reached the site of the accident. The guy who’d fallen was shouting at us, trying to direct us. He sounded far away, and was impossible to spot with the LED headlamps we were wearing. Luckily, I had my trusty old SureFire 6Z CombatLight® with me, retrofitted with a 120-lumen bulb. My flashlight pierced through the darkness and drizzle, and we found him about 120 feet down the ridge. We climbed down on some ropes and helped stabilized his injuries. He had a broken leg and a broken wrist, but half an hour later we extracted him, with the assistance of the Red Cross.
My SureFire may be old, but it’s still a workhorse after all these years. It’s also the best investment in safety gear I’ve ever made.
Albert C.
Nuevo Leon, Mexico
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SureFire Makes a Bad Situation a Little Better
Less than a week after receiving an L4 LumaMax® and a Kroma® in the mail, they both proved invaluable in assisting an injured motorist in the dead of night. I was driving on a major highway, coming home late one night, when a car in front of me lost control, rolled multiple times, and collided head-on with a disabled flatbed on the side of the road. I pulled over immediately. When I ran to the scene of the crash, others were trying desperately to peer into the upturned car, looking for survivors, but without any light they could not see anything. My L4 changed that immediately.
With its wide, bright beam, I was able to quickly locate a passenger in the back seat and see he was still conscious, albeit with a badly broken leg. He told us there were two more people in the front of the car, and I was able to locate both of them with the L4. With horror, I realized they were hopelessly pinned inside the car, and neither was breathing or had a pulse. With gasoline and oil spilling from the car's mangled engine, we decided to extricate the lone survivor before the situation worsened. Holding back the passenger's wrecked door, I held my L4 on the scene as others pulled him from the smoking wreckage.
In the meantime I'd given my Kroma, set with its red surrounding LEDs and its main beam on, to another good Samaritan to wave off traffic coming around the bend. When firefighters arrived on the scene, a number were without lights, so I lent them my flashlights
Thanks for designing flashlights that perform so well — even under such terrible circumstances. Every motorist should have at least one SureFire in his or her glove box at all times.
Evan C.
McLean, VA
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Another Close Call at Theater Camp
I'm a director at a theater camp, and we operate in a very large, 100,000+ square foot facility, which draws a lot of power. When the transformer in our neighborhood went down, so did our theater--with over 500 people in it!
Due to improper maintenance, our backup generator didn't kick in, which left us in the dark. Thankfully, I had my SureFire M6® Guardian®, which was able to light up the entire theater, thanks to its MN21 ultra high-output lamp assembly. This allowed us to evacuate the 500+ people stuck in the theater, where they were met outside by two security guards who were, coincidentally, lighting up the area with their SureFire U2 Ultra™ flashlights.
If it hadn't been for SureFire, we could have had a disastrous evening on our hands. Bravo, SureFire!
Max P.
Oakland, CA
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A Near Downrange Disaster
I am an assistant chief range officer, and our range is used for law enforcement training and is open to the general public. I was working the firing line one night when our lighting system downrange went out. Since the facility had lights working properly in other areas, we decided to allow the range to remain open.
During one of the cease-fire pauses, we checked to see that the line was safe. Upon giving the line-is-hot command, I thought I saw some movement downrange. I drew my Surefire M6® Guardian® and shined it downrange (a distance of approximately 130 yards). You can imagine my surprise when I spotted an individual standing downrange! Apparently he did not hear my command to return to the firing line. Needless to say, I immediately called a cease fire. The very nervous guy who was downrange thanked me repeatedly when he returned to the firing line.
All of the other range officers were amazed at the amount of intense, focused light my M6 produced. With the 500-lumen lamp installed, the others present said it looked like an aircraft landing light. This light truly is a portable searchlight!
I just wanted to thank you for making such a quality product. And I know of at least one other person from that night who's equally as grateful.
Lawrence F.
Lindenhurst, NY
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E2E Worth Weight in Gold in ER
I use my SureFire E2E Executive Elite® every day in the emergency room at Ibn Sina Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. One lifesaving but risky procedure we unfortunately have to perform fairly often involves making an incision on the left side and pumping a patient's heart by hand while the patient's aorta is clamped to shunt blood to only the most vital organs (heart, lungs, and brain). Getting to the aorta is hard enough without being able to see inside of a dark chest cavity, but my SureFire is small enough to avoid being in the way and bright enough to operate by its light. Whether it's a quick wound check, assessing and extracting casualties from vehicles at the gate, or reaching into a major injury to clamp an artery, my SureFire lights the way.
Tom W.
Baghdad, Iraq
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Hammer Time
I was driving on the 605 freeway one night, headed towards my buddy's house, when a lady driving a small car in front of me got cut off and lost control, ending up in the bushes on the embankment. I stopped to help, and when I got to her vehicle I noticed the smell of gas. I tried to pull her out, but her seatbelt buckle was stuck, so I used my 8AX Commander® as a hammer, beating the buckle until it opened. Moments after we were a safe distance, the car caught on fire.
If it wasn't for my SureFire light, that lady would have burned. Oh, by the way, my 8AX still worked flawlessly after the hammering. The money I spent was well worth it. In fact, because of how well the 8AX stood up, I've purchased an L7 LumaMax®.
Robert A.
Bell Gardens, CA
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From Baghdad to NYC
I purchased my SureFire G2® Nitrolon® at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq in 2004. I was immediately blown away by its high output; it was more than I expected from a relatively inexpensive light. My G2 survived hundreds of combat patrols. It provided essential light on rooftops, overpasses, dark alleys, rooms, and any other place that needed illumination. It was also invaluable in everything from roadside vehicle repairs to assisting the wounded.
Upon returning home and gaining employment with the FDNY, I attached my G2 to my fire helmet. This little light provides awesome lighting not only in fires but during any rescue operations that requires hands-free illumination. Thanks for making such an incredible product. There's no doubt in my mind that the small investment I made in my G2 back in 2004 has paid off many times over by saving many lives.
Scott S.
NY, New York
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So Useful the Wife Even Wants One
I brought my recently purchased SureFire L1 LumaMax® to the local amusement park, where my kids were enjoying a Halloween Night for small children. Its 10 - lumen low output was perfect for the event. On our drive home, the kids were sound asleep in the back of the car when my wife and I noticed a commotion in the road ahead. As we approached, we saw someone lying in the roadway. They'd apparently been trying to cross the highway and had been struck by a car.
The L1, on its high-output (65 lumens) setting was just what was needed. I was able to use the light to help a nurse who'd also stopped look over the victim and see the extent of his injuries. It also helped me to wave off and alert oncoming traffic. After the paramedics arrived and I'd returned to the car, my wife, who'd previously criticized me for spending $135 on a flashlight, said, "Maybe you could get me one of those to keep in my car."
Thanks, SureFire, for unparalleled versatility, reliability, and peace of mind.
Shawn P.
Bel Air, MD
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Illuminate, then Extricate
While helping to extricate a man from a car that had merged with a tree, my SureFire L2 LumaMax® proved to be invaluable. Our fire truck's lanterns were too big to throw a tight beam, and the flashlights clipped to our SCBAs are always pointed in the wrong direction. I simply clipped my L2 onto the shield of my helmet, using its sturdy pocket clip, and presto—there was plenty of light! On high beam it lit up the entire work area with flawless white light.
In the year that I've had this light, it has never left my side. Once I've saved enough for a U2 Ultra™, it will be living permanently in my turnout gear. Thanks for making the best, SureFire!
William S.
Middleton, WI
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Medical Rep Makes Big Points with G2
I am a medical supply rep who sells open heart products. I was in an operating room, supporting a case, when the power suddenly went out. Luckily, I carry my SureFire G2® Nitrolon® everywhere I go. There were a few flashlights in the room, but only one was good enough to replace the surgeon's headlamp to help him continue sewing up the patient — my little G2.
Thank you, Surefire, for making me look good and helping save a life!
Edward C.
Collierville, TN
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Better Run through the Jungle
My climbing partner and I embarked on a six-hour ascent up Rincon De La Vieja in Rincon National Park, Costa Rica. On the return trip down the volcano, a storm rolled in, bringing with it plenty of rain, lightning, and thunder. The final leg of our trip entailed sliding downhill and drudging through the muddy jungle as quickly as possible. Water ran down the trail faster then we could, and it sounded like virtually every animal in the jungle was surrounding us, based on the howls and growls we could hear. Luckily, my G2® Nitrolon® cut a bright swath through the darkness of the soaking-wet jungle and provided security, knowing it was bright enough to scare off most any hungry animal.
Thanks, SureFire, for getting us through that mayhem!
Joseph M.
Bozrah, CT
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Kroma Finds Grandma
I was in Florida with my grandmother when a tornado plowed through her house and totally destroyed it. It was pitch dark out, and I was awakened from bed as the tornado was approaching. There was no power and no light from the moon, making the conditions pitch black. I found my way to a safe place in the basement, where my grandmother and I had planned to meet in such an incident. When I went to the basement room, she was not there as the tornado went through the house.
After the storm subsided, I searched the house, now destroyed, with my SureFire Kroma® and found my 89-year-old grandmother seriously injured and unable to move. Not only did the light help me find my grandmother, it helped me flag down a paramedic unit searching our road. If it hadn't been for my Kroma, I would not have been able to see anything!
My grandmother and I are extremely grateful to SureFire for making such a superior product.
Nate S.
New Hampton, NY
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Crenellated Strike Bezel™ Also Good for Gripping Ice
Last winter, I was out on the lake, testing for a good place to drill a hole through the ice for ice-fishing. The ice suddenly cracked and gave way, completely submerging me in the freezing-cold water. When I reemerged, I gasped for air, ripped open the front pocket of my jacket, and pulled out my E2D Defender®. I used its crenellated bezel to get a good grip in the surface ice and pull myself out.
I would've been fish food had it not been for that little gem of a flashlight.
Tyler M.
East Petersburg, PA
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L4 Lead Light at Rescue
I am a paramedic who splits his time between two jobs. The first is performing critical care inter-facility transports for a large urban health system, and the second is as a 911 paramedic in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Some time ago I purchased your L4 Digital LumaMax®. I have to admit, the light seemed to carry a hefty price tag relative to other tactical illuminators on the market; however, the cheaper models were just not holding up, and I rely on my flashlight in some pretty unusual circumstances. But after the events of this evening, I would gladly pay twice the asking price for this light.
On the way back from a call, my partner and I were flagged down by several people who reported that a local man was trapped under some wreckage in a salvage yard. Apparently he'd been searching through a pile of scrap metal when the pile gave way. He fell from the heap and became pinned down, face down, under a car chassis, a steel I-beam, a boiler casing, and various other metal objects. It was a major rescue operation to free the man, who easily had a ton of wreckage on top of him. The rescue involved a heavy rescue company, a specialized structure collapse unit, and many additional engines and ladders.
The firefighters were using a brand of flashlight geared toward the emergency response community, but these lights were like dim candles. So, out popped my L4. It was the smallest light on scene, but also the brightest, so the vast portion of the rescue operation was performed while illuminated by my flashlight. Numerous police officers and firefighters commented of the brightness of the light during the rescue. In fact, the only brighter lights on the scene was the one connected directly to a portable generator and the 5,000,000 candlepower search light on the helicopter above us--but neither of these units were available until near the end of the operation. My L4 remained at near full intensity for the entire 90 minute operation without any noticeable reduction in output.
Keep up the good work, SureFire. I can't see myself ever buying another brand of flashlight again.
Eric R.
Pennsylvania
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6P Stops 10-Ton Truck Before It's Too Late
In central Iraq, at a check point surrounded by razor wire, a semi with a "lowboy" trailer and a bulldozer drove through the check after being waved through. But the driver failed to compensate for the width of the blade on his 10-ton rig, snagging the razor wire and dragging it with him as he rolled through. The soldier assigned to my security detail was manning a fighting position opposite me. Over the roar of turbo diesels and exhaust, I heard a muffled shout and saw a green chem-light fly high into the night.
I rushed in, my newly acquired 6P® in hand, trying to get the driver's attention before he gets back on the gas and drags my soldier to his death. When he looked into his mirror and I hit him with the 65 lumens firing out of that awesome little light, he locked the brakes up then and there. I ran to the other side, praying for the best but fearing the worst. To my relief, as well as that of my soldier and the driver, the truck had stopped with about three feet left before my guy would have been dragged to his death under those giant tires.
I know this isn't the first SureFire to save a life, but I know that I will always have one or two on me—just in case I need to do it again.
John B.
Iraq
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Thunderstorm Literally Takes Breath Away
I work at a local hospital as a respiratory therapist in a cardio-vascular intensive care area. During a very intense thunderstorm one night, we lost power temporarily. Most of our ventilators have a battery backup, but some don't, so I had 10 patients who were unable to breathe when the hospital went dark.
We needed to ambu-bag all of these patients, but in the dark we couldn't see to grab oxygen tanks from the supply area. I had my A2 Aviator® on a lanyard around my neck, so I grabbed it and immediately lit up the unit. I was able to get the tanks to all the bedsides in time to start bagging while we waited for the backup generator to kick in.
That night could have been disastrous had it not been for my sweet A2!
Mike S.
Macon, GA
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SureFire Keeps Climbers from Going Over the Edge
Over the Thanksgiving break, a friend and I went rock climbing and camping in Kentucky. After a day at the wall, we decided we'd hike up to a natural bridge, an 80-foot arch you can walk across. It was our first day there, and we had no idea how early it got dark.
Long story short, we forgot our headlamps and only had a SureFire Executive Elite® flashlight with us. We had a long hike out, over very rocky terrain, and still had to cross back over the arch. As we were walking, the beam illuminated the edge of the cliff—only five feet in front of me! We had wandered off the trail and almost went over the edge. About 40 people a year die or are severely injured at this spot.
Thanks to SureFire, we didn't become just another grim statistic.
Kyle F.
Flower Mound, TX
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U2 Stops Traffic and Saves a Life
It was 5:00 a.m., and I'd just gotten off work, after an exhausting 14-hour shift. I was on the freeway, heading north, when the next thing I knew, I'd drifted off the pavement. As I frantically tried to steer myself back onto the pavement, I overcorrected, causing my Honda to flip twice and land upside down.
Pinned and unable to move, I'd lost all feeling in my legs. To make matters worse, my car was obstructed from view by high brush and its headlights no longer worked, so I was invisible from the freeway. I was able to reach the horn, but this proved unsuccessful—the battery had evidently come disconnected.
I screamed and yelling at passing cars for about 15 minutes before realizing that my U2 Ultra™ was in my pocket. So I managed to pull it from my pocket and began flashing an S.O.S. to a passing car. The car pulled over, and the driver called for an ambulance.
I suffered a broken hip, a dislodged femur, a fractured fibula and tibia, some broken ribs, and a few cuts and bruises. There's no doubt in my mind that my SureFire saved my life that dark morning—the driver who saved me told me he was blinded by the light and had to pull over to see what it was. Boy, am I glad he did.
Thank you, Surefire, for making such a great product!
Xuan N.
Garden Grove, CA
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E2E and Good Samaritan are First Responders
I was awakened by my wife at 3:00 a.m. to investigate what she thought was a car accident near our home. I ran across the yard to find a Jeep on its side in the middle of the road. As I approached the vehicle, the lights and the radio were on, but no one was in the Jeep.
I began searching the area with my E2E Executive Elite®. I found the driver, who'd been ejected from the vehicle and was lying unconscious on the ground, about 10 yards from the vehicle. I ran back to tell my wife so she could relay the information to 911 about the victim. The first responder was a state trooper, who began searching the area with me for other possible victims. As we searched, he commented on how bright my light was. I told him that he didn't need a big bulky light like the one he had; just a SureFire.
The driver was airlifted to a medical center. Had it not been for my SureFire, precious time would have been wasted and he may not have made it.
Richard L.
Williamsport, PA
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Glass Broken, Life Saved
I'm a firefighter/EMT with a passion for flashlights, and the SureFire M3 CombatLight® is my poison.
Late one night, I responded to a motor vehicle accident with entrapment; a car had collided with a pickup truck. Upon arrival, it was determined that the single occupant of the truck was badly injured and needed immediate attention, but the collision had left the driver's side door unusable. We needed immediate entry through the passenger side door, which was locked. Without hesitation, I reached for my M3, held it firmly, and shattered the window glass with its Strike Bezel™. I was then able to reach in and unlock the door, gaining access to the patient trapped inside.
My SureFire not only saved time, it saved a young man's life. Hats off to you, SureFire! Thanks for making a real difference.
Thomas S.
Belmont, NY
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This Wasn’t in the Script
I am not a rescue professional, but I do carry my new SureFire E1e Executive Elite® with me everywhere. Last month, while watching a movie at the theater, there was a cry for help from behind us. An elderly lady was having a heart attack. Fortunately, there were two paramedics in the theater and they jumped up to help. Unfortunately, the house lights did not come up and the paramedics had no flashlights. It was SureFire to the rescue!
I may not know CPR, but I can hold a light for those who do. Between my SureFire E1e and the two paramedics, the victim was resuscitated and survived. The house lights never did come on.
Craig B.
Toledo, OH
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My G2 cut through the smoke with ease…
Being the best man in my best friend's wedding introduced me to the amazing SureFire lineup. He bought all of us who stood with him the G2 Nitrolon® flashlight. After getting it home, checking out the web site, and reading some of the crazy situations people with SureFire lights have had I was almost wondering if I'd ever have a crazy story of my own to share involving this flashlight. Interestingly enough, I did.
Not six months after his wedding, I was asleep in the 100 year-old residence hall that I oversee at Taylor University Fort Wayne. I was awakened just after 5am by the sound of the fire alarm, quickly got up, grabbed my sweatshirt and my G2, and ran out of my room. Once I got in the hallway, I realized that it was beginning to fill with smoke. I turned on the G2 and it cut through the smoke with ease.
Next I started banging on doors and going in to see if everyone was out. A couple of the doors that I opened I went in to find the guys still asleep in their beds. I shined the light on them and yelled at them to wake up and get out of the building. On my way up the stairs, I began to pass the guys coming down from the third floor. They later recounted that they remember me going around with a 'really bright' flashlight, and that it helped them see where they were going to get out.
After checking the doors on the third floor I went back down to the second floor where the smoke was getting very thick and black. Thankfully, I went down the stairway where there was a fire exit and was able to get out safely. When everything was said and done everyone got out of the building without any injuries, which the firemen would later call 'a miracle.' I know that God was watching out for us that morning, but I also know that having my SureFire right next to my bed for me to grab was no accident either!
Thanks for such a great product.
Adam H.
Fort Wayne, IN
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Brain Surgery in the Dark
I am an anesthesiologist, and the one instrument that's always by my side, besides my laryngoscope, is a Surefire 6P™ Original.
Midway during a recent brain surgery, a major fire at the hospital's powerhouse shut down-both main and backup power. The operating room was plunged into total darkness. But thanks to my trusty 6P, the
neurosurgeon was able to complete the rest of the aneurysm surgery in about a half hour, using just my 6P for illumination in the totally dark operating room. We were then able to negotiate the dark
corridors to the recovery room with the help of my dependable 6P. My flashlight was definitely instrumental in saving that patient's life.
Dr. Joseph A.
Quezon City, Philippines
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A Scene Right Out of "City Slickers"
I'm a rancher, and one night, during calving season (which is in the dead of winter, in Wyoming) I was out checking the cows to see if we had any new calves. I was in the truck and saw a lump in the middle of the
pasture, so I shined the headlights on it. Sure enough, it was a heifer (a cow giving birth for the first time), and she was having trouble because the calf was coming out backwards.
It was freezing cold, but I jumped out of the truck to help anyway. The headlights were pointed at the cow, as I roped her and snugged her up to the grill so she wouldn't run away. I had just rolled up my sleeves
and was about to help get the calf, when the truck died — one of the tanks had run out of gas. Well, I didn't have time to go back and restart the truck, but luckily I had my handy-dandy SureFire flashlight in my
back pocket. So I whipped it out and stuck it between my teeth and got to work.
I reached my hands inside the cow and pushed the calf back inside, then flipped it 180 degrees and turned it upside down. About that time, the cow fell over, and I was forced to work next to the frozen ground. I
eventually got the young cow to push the calf the rest of the way out, and it was a good thing I did, because the calf was almost drowned.
I would have been doing this in the dark if it wasn't for my SureFire. Well, the calf and cow both lived to be strong and healthy, and now I never go anywhere (especially checking cows) without my SureFire.
Sean S.
Lusk, WY
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Illuminate & Intubate
I was a volunteer EMT/Extrication technician for a rescue squad in Virginia. One night, I was called out to a major car accident on a back road in the mountains. We arrived on scene to find a car over an embankment, wrapped around a tree. It was dark and raining very hard, and our scene lights couldn't reach down the steep hill. So I un-holstered my E2D Executive Defender® and went to work.
I quickly made my way down the slick slope using my Defender as a guide, holding it in my mouth as I grasped for sticks and trees to keep myself from falling. When I reached the car, I discovered one occupant in the front seat, totally unconscious. In the pitch- black, soaking-wet, muddy conditions, I stripped off my coat and made my way into the car through the back window, only to find my patient was not only unconscious, but also not breathing.
Long story short, I managed to intubate the victim inside the wrecked car with only the light from my SureFire E2D Defender, which I held in my mouth the whole time. All my buddies on the fire department always rag me about carrying a $100 flashlight, but it certainly was worth its weight in gold on that night.
Jason D
Chapel Hill, NC
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I woke up with a crippling pain in my lower back…
We had been planning this trip for a month. The plan was to stage my truck in Hot Springs and then drive to Max Patch and start a leisurely 20-mile hike over two nights. Nothing demanding, just a lot of time to enjoy the outdoors and some peace and quiet.
We hit Max Patch at 7:30 PM, and at 8:00, we headed into the woods for some nighttime hiking to put some distance on our journey. We decided to stop at the Roaring Fork shelter, set up camp, fixed dinner, and then settled down in the shelter at midnight.
About an hour later, I woke up with a crippling pain in my lower left back. I’ve had my appendix out and I was extremely concerned that something was very wrong as this felt much worse. I realized that only a visit to an emergency room would help. I had to make a 4.5-mile hike back to the car followed by a 1.5-hour drive to the hospital.
Jonathan and I got dressed for the hike out, left our gear in the shelter, and headed out on a pitch black night, literally putting one foot in front of the other. I used my Surefire E1L Outdoorsman, which lit the way and literally turned night into day. We kept moving with the simple goal of reaching the car. A wrong turn led us off the trail and we backtracked and missed the turn again on the way back. On our third try, we found the switchback with a considerable amount of anxiety relief and continued on through the occasional rain drops that were now starting to fall.
As we exited the woods the winds were whipping us around like flags. We would later learn that Hurricane Rita’s last breadths were being exhausted on this area and were hitting over 40 miles/hour. Jonathan was blown off the trail several times. About a _ mile from the car, I doubled over and was quickly on all fours dry heaving in misery. The emergency room doctor would later tell me that this was nausea brought on by the pain spiking and hitting “my limit”. I picking myself off the ground and kept moving since I knew we were almost to the car.
Epilogue: I would learn that morning that kidney stones could indeed be quite painful. The doctors were amazed that I had been able to walk out to get treatment. In special circumstances the U.S. Forest Service will retrieve your abandoned gear, if your wife is persistent enough. I’ve learned a couple of valuable lessons 1) never backpack solo 2) your hiking partner should be someone you would take into battle 3) never underestimate your ability to overcome adversity.
Traywick A.
Arden, NC
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Adventure on the High Seas
I've had a SureFire L7 LumaMax® for over a year now, and it’s the best investment I've made.
I was recently on a boat crossing the Bering Sea. We ran into heavy seas throughout the entire trip, but on day four we hit some truly horrific waves. Our hull warped and cracked, and we were taking on water — a lot of it. I shoved shirts and anything else I could grab at the time into the crack in the hull. I started placing pieces of wood over the crack, but I ran out of wood and needed one more piece about six and a half inches long to go across from the hull to the bulkhead...a piece of wood about the same length as my L7.
I shoved the L7 between the hull and bulkhead, and it stayed put the entire way back. After we pulled into port, I removed my L7, hit the switch, and, amazingly, it fired right up! We fixed the crack and bought ten more L7s after that.
Just thought you'd want to know what a great product you've got!
Sean S.
Seattle, WA
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Guardian Prevents CO Poisoning
As an industrial paramedic, I encounter my fair share of unusual calls, especially ones in confined spaces or places where it's difficult to actually locate the patient. One late night, we received a 911 cell-phone call from a patient saying he was in and out of consciousness, throwing up, weak, and that he had a horrible headache. These symptoms usually point to carbon monoxide poisoning, a condition that's extremely serious because a patient only has a limited amount of time before serious, irreparable brain damage can occur.
The patient was somewhere in the plant's basement and could only give us a vague description of his location. My cohorts all had their company-issued "off"-brand lights, which put out about 30 lumens of weak light in a junky beam pattern. But I had my SureFire M6® Guardian®, which pumped out a near-flawless, 500-lumen beam. Needless to say, they all passed over his limp body because his dusty clothing blended in with the equipment around him. But my Guardian's 500 lumens of light don't allow a whole lot to remain hidden, so I soon discovered him—in an area with 800 ppm of carbon monoxide. At this concentration of CO, a person has well under an hour before brain damage occurs due to lack of oxygenation. Not only did my SureFire help us find the patient quickly enough to save his life, but it allowed our EMS crew and firefighters to get out of the area before we suffered any injuries from the poisonous gas.
Ryan M.
Michigan City, IN
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Ambu-Light
While working as an EMT for a private ambulance company, our aging ambulance decided to have an electrical problem, and the lighting in the patient compartment, where we had an elderly gentleman, suddenly failed. Without a second thought, I pulled out my SureFire G2®, locked its tailcap to constant-on, and bounced the beam off the ceiling. It provided more than enough lighting for patient care, impressing both my partner and the patient.
My G2 has proved valuable for all kinds of tasks. Its small size and light weight have allowed me to carry it just about everywhere, including situations where I wouldn't otherwise have had a light source with me.
Andy J.
Kennewick, WA
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Seven-Inch Knife Defeated by Five-Inch Light
I work often as a guard for a security agency. One night I was confronted by a hostile man with seven-inch blade. Luckily, my training with my SureFire G2® and my baton saved me from what could have been a very nasty scenario. It's a testament to SureFire quality how even a lower-priced model has such effectiveness in a CQB (close quarter battle) environment.
Luke P.
Farnham, U.K.
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Later, Skaters!
I got a SureFire 6P® as a Christmas gift and was amazed at how bright it was, but I couldn't think of any reason I needed such a powerful light. One night I was walking my dog, and a couple of skaters came up behind me and told me to give them my money. I was so scared that I just froze, but then I realized I had a bright flashlight in my pocket. So I pulled out my 6P and fired it in their eyes. They froze for a moment and then skated off in the opposite direction.
Thanks, Surefire, for saving my life.
Ian L.
Arcadia, CA
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Take a Hike
It started out as an innocent hiking trip with two of my friends in the mountains of Hawaii. We thought we could make one of the summits by dark. Ten miles later, well after dark, we were out of water and severely dehydrated. We were not even close to the summit. As a last resort, I had to call in the helicopter to fly my two friends out. They were in bad shape physically. We could hear the chopper coming up the mountain, and they could not obtain a fix on us. The dispatch operator asked me to turn on my flashlight and shine it into the sky. I proceeded to turn on my L5 LumaMax® and lit up the sky. The helicopter immediately noticed my flashlight and located our position. Both my friends were evacuated and obtained the assistance necessary.
If it was not for my L5 LumaMax flashlight, they would have never found us. The firefighters gave me water, and I walked down the next morning.
Paul W.
Ewa Beach, HI
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Hurricane Survivor Thankful for SureFire
When we lost all power due to Hurricane Katrina, SureFire came to our rescue. We had no idea this hurricane would be as destructive or dangerous as it was, so we decided to stay home and ride it out. At 2:20 a.m., the power went dead. I know now what the expression "the silence was deafening" really means. It was eerily quiet, when all of a sudden we heard a noise—water was coming into our home through our doors. Then we heard what sounded like a wall of water, and a flood rushed in through our doors.
I only had time to grab my wife, our children, our pets, and to get into our attic before the water flooded our entire first floor. I own two SureFire flashlights, and my wife and I both had one in our pocket. We flashed them down into the second floor and could actually see waves cresting in our living room. I have to admit, we were all scared to death, but having our SureFires gave us the light we needed to survive and to comfort us. These lights guided us to our rooftop, where we sat for hours until we could be rescued. If not for SureFire, I know we wouldn't have made it out safely, and I would not be around to tell my story.
Arnold E.
Biloxi, MS
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Pet Surgeries Successful, Thanks to SureFire
I work at a veterinary hospital. One night, after closing, two of our doctors were doing surgery, when a storm knocked out all of our power. It was already dark outside, so it was pitch black inside the hospital. We had no generator, and all of our flashlights were in oddball, hard-to-find places. Luckily, I carry my E1L Outdoorsman on me at all times.
I quickly handed my light to one of the technicians assisting the surgeries and found my way to my bag, which contained my G2® LED, which I quickly gave to another technician in a surgery. Because of their small size, awesome power, and long battery life, both SureFire lights were able to last the duration of both surgical procedures, preventing two families from losing their best furry friends because of a power outage.
Thanks, SureFire.
Camile W.
Fresno, CA
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Bikers Unite
I was riding my bike at night, as I typically do during the summer. I always bring along my cell phone, my SureFire E2D, and a folding knife. As I was rounding the final turn onto my street, I heard a bunch of screeching tires and some screaming from women. Across a field I spotted a number of stopped motorcycles that were being backed over by a car.
I was the second bystander on the scene. While a neighbor called emergency services, I used my E2D to assist a number of the bikers in assessing their injuries, as well as help one who wasn't wearing a helmet pick Plexiglas shards from his shattered windshield out of his face. I stayed and helped divert traffic with my light until emergency personnel arrived.
Apparently, the driver of the car had cut off the bikers, pulled off the road and the bikers followed and parked behind the car. The driver then proceeded to take his road rage out on bikers by backing over their bikes—while they were still straddling them. I was thanked for my assistance, and the bikers and emergency workers all checked out my incredible flashlight before I rode home. I'm pretty sure a few SureFires were sold the next day.
Jonathan G.
Lansdale, PA
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Kayaking Camper Leads Way for Rescue
One spring we were camping at one of our favorite Texas lakes, when, around 1:00 a.m., I heard a distant cry for help. I woke my husband and told him I heard someone crying for help. He grabbed his SureFire G2® flashlight and ran out of the trailer.
The cries were coming from the water, which was very chilly, so he told me to call the park ranger on my cell phone, while he jumped in his kayak with his SureFire and headed in the direction of the cries for help. He held the light in his mouth as he paddled toward the cries for help. Finally, three quarters of a mile offshore, he saw something floating in the water-three people with no life jackets, clinging to a small boat. He called me from his cell phone and told me he'd found them, and I told the ranger, who'd since arrived at our camp. The ranger then launched his boat and headed out, using my husband's bright G2 as a beacon to direct him.
Thanks to SureFire, three lives were saved that night-a night I will never forget.
Nan W.
Ft. Worth, TX
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E2DL Gets (and Gives) Stamp of Approval
The E2D Defender® is by far the best SureFire flashlight I've ever owned. It has been on my person every since the day I purchased it, and even when I sleep it is on my nightstand. Naturally, when the E2DL came out I had to get my hands on one. The 120 lumens its LED produces on high is great for doing all sorts of activities where more light is required. And the five lumens of output it generates on low is great for reading maps and general use around the home.
I like to jog at night, and I've always carried my E2D with me when I jog, but now I carry my E2DL. While jogging one night, I was attacked by a homeless person who seemed like he was on some sort of narcotic. He grabbed on to my reflective arm band as I ran past him and held on tightly. With my other hand, I reached into my shorts' pocket and pulled out my E2DL. I hit his hand with the E2DL's crenellated Strike Bezel®, and he released my arm band. Then I quickly shined the light in his eyes, disorienting him, and when he raised his hands to cover his eyes, I hit him in his forehead with the bezel, knocking him to the ground. A Good Samaritan spotted me in distress and helped me hold down the suspect until the police arrived. When the police arrived, they were curious about the odd shape on the suspect's forehead. I showed them the E2DL, and they instantly knew it was a SureFire—they even asked me when the LED E2D model came out.
Thank you, SureFire, for making quality products that I can depend on when my life is on the line.
Eric M.
Bronx, NY
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