Hydraulic Rescue Tools - History

History

Previously rescuers often used circular saws for vehicle extrication, but these suffered from several drawbacks. Saws can conduct sparks, which could start a fire, create loud sounds, stress the victim(s), and often cut slowly. Alternatively, rescuers could try to pry open the vehicle doors with a crowbar or Halligan bar, but this could compromise the stability of the vehicle, injure the victims further, or inadvertently trigger the airbags of the vehicle.

In comparison, hydraulic spreader-cutters are quieter, faster, stronger, and more versatile: they can cut, open, and even lift a vehicle. Jaws of Life is a now trademarked line of tools originally developed by Hurst Performance, located on Jackson Road in Warminster, Pennsylvania. Hurst Performance began to export parts to a European company to avoid import duty. In partnership with Zumro resQtec for use in auto racing, with Hurst targeting the American market and resQtec targeting the European market. The hydraulic spreader was originally developed in 1972 by Tim Smith and Mike Brick, who later developed a cutter and a hydraulic ram. When an occupant is trapped the tool is used to pry or cut the car to remove the occupant. It takes about two minutes to take the roof off a car. Mike Brick coined the phrase "Jaws of Life" after he observed people saying that their new device "snatched people from the jaws of death." Later Brick went on to develop a single rescue tool that could perform all the functions of rescue — push, pull, cut and spread. His patent for this unique design eventually led to the Phoenix Rescue tool, which incorporates his design to this day. Other manufacturers (including Holmatro and Lukas, amongst others) make equivalent tools.