When using a pike pole to break a window, the firefighter should:

When using a pike pole to break a window, the firefighter should:

• A. stand downwind of the window.
• B. position hands higher than the impact point.
• C. start with the spring-loaded center punch first.
• D. clear only the bottom pane of glass.

Answer: (B)

When breaching a window with a pike pole, control and protection come from how you grip the tool. Placing your hands higher than the point of impact keeps your hands and wrists clear of the blow’s line and any potential kickback or shards. This grip lets you direct the strike with better leverage and stability, so the tool stays on target and your body stays behind the force, reducing the chance of slipping or injuring yourself as the glass yields. If your hands were at or below the impact point, a misstrike could push the tool toward your body or drive glass toward you, increasing risk. The other options don’t support safe, effective breaching: standing downwind doesn’t change the need for precise control and exposes you to debris; starting with a spring-loaded center punch isn’t applicable to glass breaching with a pike pole; and only clearing the bottom pane isn’t a reliable or safe approach for creating an effective opening.

When breaching a window with a pike pole, control and protection come from how you grip the tool. Placing your hands higher than the point of impact keeps your hands and wrists clear of the blow’s line and any potential kickback or shards. This grip lets you direct the strike with better leverage and stability, so the tool stays on target and your body stays behind the force, reducing the chance of slipping or injuring yourself as the glass yields. If your hands were at or below the impact point, a misstrike could push the tool toward your body or drive glass toward you, increasing risk.

The other options don’t support safe, effective breaching: standing downwind doesn’t change the need for precise control and exposes you to debris; starting with a spring-loaded center punch isn’t applicable to glass breaching with a pike pole; and only clearing the bottom pane isn’t a reliable or safe approach for creating an effective opening.