
#Jaws of life tool driver
Hurst was inspired to invent the Jaws of Life as a means to remove the trapped driver more efficiently and safely. Most extractions could take anywhere around an hour or more. Rescue workers had to worry about the saws creating sparks that could ignite a fire or cause an explosion.Īs Hurst sat there and watched the rescue workers use the circular saw to help remove the driver, he recognized the dangers of the process, especially considering the amount of time the operation took.

When the saw touches the metal, it makes a loud grinding sound that can further panic the already frantic driver. However, saw blades against a metal framework were not always the safest or least stressful method of extraction. He was shocked and appalled by how long the process took and how dangerous the current methods were.īefore the Jaws of Life, many rescue workers relied on large circular saws to remove portions of the vehicle to allow for rescue. One of the stock racers had flipped their vehicle, and Hurst watched as rescue workers attempted to remove the trapped driver from the wreckage. In 1961, a physicist and educator George Hurst witnessed a grotesque scene one afternoon while he was at a stock race. While people continue to improve the original Jaws of Life design and make them work with newer vehicles and offer more functionality, the invention of the Jaws of Life has continued to be the most helpful rescue tool in vehicle extractions. The Jaws of Life are a fairly recent invention that has helped save countless people trapped inside their vehicles. All together, these three tools make up the Jaws of Life. The rescue workers will use a combination of a cutter, spreader and ram to help them pry open the vehicles in the accident. Once rescue workers arrive at the scene, they will use an assortment of hydraulic tools referred to collectively as the Jaws of Life to cut away the framework of the car and lift it high enough for them to get you out. When your car comes to a stop, you’re upside down with a broken leg, pinned against the dashboard. Your vehicle crashes off the side of the highway, and as you swerve to regain control, you inevitably flip your vehicle. You’re driving down the highway, enjoying the scenery and music, when, suddenly, a drunk driver swerves into you. Pasco County has three sets of this new equipment right now, which they say were purchased with funds already in the budget.The term “Jaws of Life” refers to a valuable rescue tool used to help rescue individuals trapped in their vehicle after a dangerous accident. The Jaws of Life is not just one thing but a compilation of several items grouped into one. Probably within 10 years there won't be the power packs or the gas powered engines," he explained. He said in a life and death situation, having a tool like this makes a huge difference. "We can put a battery in our pocket and we have literally an hour and a half worth of run time," Dieters said. The new HURST jaws of life tools use batteries and allow firefighters to get straight to work as soon as they get on scene. "These tools just allow the firefighters to be more efficient," Tom Winkler, Rescue Tool Specialist, said. The old jaws of life tools firefighters used was run by gas powered engines, and it took up precious time to get everything out and connected before it could be used. That means their goal is to take just an hour to get someone out of a car, for example, and to the hospital. "We're working in the golden hour," Capt. Gas powered engines ran old tools, taking up time.New HURST jaws of life tools use batteries.



Pasco County Fire Rescue unveiled new life-saving equipment they say will make it much easier and more importantly more efficient to rescue people in need.
