The Jaws Of Life, with spreader and cutter capability

The Jaws of Life, or Hurst Tool, is a line of tools originally developed by Hurst Performance and now under the registered trademark of Hale Products, Inc. The hydraulic spreader, originally invented in 1972 as an extrication tool for the race car industry is now essential equipment in rescue, firefighting, EMS, and public safety operations. Hale Products says, "Because the tool reduced the time to extricate a victim from a car crash, literally snatching them from the 'jaws of death', the tool earned the name Jaws of Life." This work is copyrighted. ... This work is copyrighted. ... The Jaws Of Life, with spreader and cutter capability The hydraulic spreader, one of the Jaws of Life, is a tool used in vehicle extrication. ... A modern hammer is directly descended from ancient hand tools A tool is a device that provides a mechanical or mental advantage in accomplishing a simple machine, or a combination of them. ... Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, autosport or motorsport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. ... Emergency services are public services that deal with emergencies and other aspects of Public Safety. ... Firefighter in full turn out gear with a pickhead axe. ...

The Jaws of Life products include spreaders, cutters, rams, and other tools used for vehicle extrication. The term has come to be used generically for any brand of these products, not just those made by Hale Products. A spreader could be: Railroad maintenance of way equipment designed to spread or shape ballast profiles along the right of way of a railroad track – see Spreader (railroad) A tool used by emergency crews in vehicle extrication – see Hydraulic spreader This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists... Vehicle extrication is the process of removing a person from a vehicle that has been involved in a motor vehicle accident when conventional means of exit are impossible or unadvisable. ...

Before, the rescuers used circular saws, which caused a lot of problems: Portable saw The article is about the cutting tool. ...

• the cutting operation was slow;
• the noise and the vibrations were very stressing for the casualty;
• the sparks could start a fire with the possible gasoline leaks.

In comparison, the Jaws of Life are silent (hydraulic power), act fast, and can both cut and open, and even lift up if adapted to do so. Stress (roughly the opposite of relaxation) is a medical term for a wide range of strong external stimuli, both physiological and psychological, which can cause a physiological response called the general adaptation syndrome, first described in 1936 by Hans Selye in the journal Nature. ... It has been suggested that flame be merged into this article or section. ... Gasoline is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Hydraulics is a branch of science and engineering concerned with the use of liquids to perform mechanical tasks. ...

References

• Hurst Jaws of Life