Watch the 'Jaws of Life' In Action Save an Injured Motorist From a Wreck
The "Jaws of Life" is a crucial tool to fire and rescue squads to save hundreds of lives every year.
You've probably seen the "Jaws of Life" in action while driving past a roadside accident. If not, you've likely heard about the famous tool in one way or another that’s typically used to rip open all sorts of mangled metal. But if you've ever wondered how it works, it's a fairly simple machine despite its intimidating looks.
The “Jaws of Life” is used indeterminately for pretty much any type of heavy-duty tool that acts like a pair of scissors, cutter, spreader, or ram-device aimed at slicing and dicing through most automotive metals. In reality, the term "Jaws of Life" is actually trademarked by Hurst — a company known for its manufacturing of heavy-duty hydraulic equipment — but as mentioned, it’s applied colloquially to any sort of similar device or tool used specifically in this practice.
If you've ever wondered how crews set up the tool for use on the scene, or how they work, the following video of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District rescuing an injured driver trapped in a fox-body Ford Mustang provides a solid glimpse.
