![]() The oil trapped between the two pistons creates immense pressure that gives hydraulic machinery its strength. The force placed on the oil by the piston transfers to another piston, forcing it up. Hydraulics work by having a piston push down against the incompressible fluid, such as oil and phosphate esters. Hydraulic-powered tools rely on the pressure caused by an incompressible fluid trying to be compressed. Jaws of Life rely on the power and pressure of hydraulics to achieve faster and safer results. This process takes too long and is extremely dangerous. These blades would spin rapidly and cut through the framework of the vehicle. Before the invention of the Jaws of Life, rescue workers used saw blades. The Jaws of Life function much differently than the old method of vehicle extraction. When most people witnessed the Jaws of Life in action, they would refer to the drivers as being snatched away by the “jaws of death.” Hurst took the idiom and used it as an inspiration for the name of his invention. As a result, his invention grew in popularity and many rescue workers began using them in their extraction process. Relying on hydraulics, the Jaws of Life could easily tear open the framework of a vehicle in less than minutes. 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. ![]() ![]() 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.
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