Originally a trademarked brand name, this term refers to any hydraulic or battery-powered extrication tool used by rescue personnel. The set typically includes spreaders to pry crushed metal apart, cutters to slice through roof pillars, and rams to push dashboards away from trapped victims. These tools generate thousands of pounds of force to quickly dismantle a vehicle around a patient without causing further injury.
Heard on the job
Get the Jaws of Life off the heavy rescue and start working on that driver side door.
Insider tip
While the public calls the entire setup the Jaws of Life, crews usually refer to the specific tool they need on scene, simply asking for the cutters, the spreaders, or the ram.
Also heard as
- extrication tools
- hydraulic rescue tools
- Hurst tool
- spreaders