HURST Jaws of Life^®

For years, the term “Jaws of Life” has been associated with extrication equipment. Although there is a lot more to an extrication equipment cache, even nonfirefighters or nonrescuers know that “Jaws of Life” refers to equipment to help create a means for emergency medical services personnel to access a patient who is trapped in a vehicle and ultimately to create a path to extricate the patient.

But, extrication tools have advanced since the early days of “the jaws.” I caught up with HURST Jaws of Life Director of NA Rescue Sales Rick Rainwater to discuss some of the most important innovations in extrication tools and what other tools HURST Jaws of Life offers beyond extrication equipment.

CM: What are the advantages of “smart” extrication tools?

RR: Smart tools have numerous advantages to ensure that tools stay in service and at the ready; potential problems can be addressed before they turn into problems on scene. A great example of this proactive preventive maintenance technology is cutter roll detection technology. By heeding the smart tool’s interactive warning, a roll-notice could reveal that a minor tightening adjustment of the blade center bolt may be needed, and this adjustment greatly reduces the risk of future blade roll and cutter failure on scene.

CM: In your opinion, what is the most important innovation in extrication tools in the past decade?

RR: Over the past decade, the rescue tool market has made significant changes for the better—almost all rescue tool manufacturers are now making a battery-over-hydraulic system—giving the end user the ability to grab and go with little to no setup time, not being tethered to a gas power unit, and eliminating having to use hydraulic hoses, giving you the ability to use it for more than just extrication and for confined space or forcible entry.

CM: What advice do you have for fire departments specifying new extrication equipment?

RR: Make sure the tools are National Fire Protection Association compliant and that they have the highest IP Rating on the tool and battery. Do your homework on what size spreaders we offer (four different sizes), cutters we offer (three different sizes), and rams (three different sizes) that will benefit your department.

CM: HURST Jaws of Life is known for hydraulic extrication equipment, but what other products does HURST offer to round out an extrication tool complement?

RR: Along with our extrication equipment, we also offer our Strong Arm tool, which is a RIT/forcible entry tool, Vetter air bags, and the HURST scene light that runs off of the same battery as our extrication tools.

CM: What keeps you awake at night?

RR: There are a lot of fire departments out there that are still using 10- to 15-year-old extrication tools—if not older—and cannot get the job done when needed because of the new steels and aluminum that are being manufactured for today’s vehicles.