Jaws of Life

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=75 BGCOLOR="#330000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="198c8c83.jpg"> <div> Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department</div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=250 BGCOLOR="#BBBBBB" TEXT="#080000" background="0befa043.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department">Home</A></div> <div> <B>Jaws of Life</B></div> <div> <A HREF="saws__irons.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Saws Irons">Saws & Irons</A></div> <div> <A HREF="scba.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SCBA">SCBA</A></div> <div> <A HREF="thermal_imaging.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thermal Imaging">Thermal Imaging</A></div> <div> <A HREF="bunker_gear.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bunker Gear">Bunker Gear</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=405 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Jaws of Life</I></div> <div> The Riverhead Fire Department uses the "Hurst" brand of heavy rescue tools, typically for the extrication of motor vehicle accident victims trapped by jammed doors and crushed and bent vehicle frames.</div> <bR> <div> While we operate with a full suite of "Hurst" brand tools, the best known of them is the "Jaws of Life," which is used when a powerful spreading or pinching force is needed. "Jaws of Life" is the original hydraulic rescue tool. Developed by Hurst Rescue Systems in 1972, this innovative patented product was soon adopted by fire, police, rescue, and military personnel around the world.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="37f7dec0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="236" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0"><B>"Jaws of Life"</B></div> <div> Opening force: 18,000 lbs at tips</div> <div> Closing force: 18,800 lbs at shackle holes</div> <div> Full span: 32.25 inches wide-open</div> <div> Weight: 70 lbs with fluid & connections</div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="60096920.gif" border=0 width="150" height="146" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="6019c950.gif" border=0 width="156" height="149" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="3846c690.jpg" border=0 width="108" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Tips</B></div> <div> Because every rescue job is different, at a moments notice, the tips of this tool may be changed to different configuration.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Some of the other, lesser known tools include;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="386b4720.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="114" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0">"O" Cutter</B></div> <div> Named for the "O" shape made by the blades, this tool is used when a quick, clean and powerful cutting force is needed, which tends to be the case when cutting the roof off of a vehicle to extricate a victim.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Normal cutting force: 12,358 lbs at blade center</div> <div> Peak cutting force: 22,455 lbs at base of blade notch</div> <div> Cutting opening: 4.25 inches</div> <div> Weight: 18.9 lbs with fluid & connections</div> <div> Length: 24 inches</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="38882c80.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="200" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0">Combination Tool</B></div> <div> This tool is a combination of the two tools shown above with some drawbacks. It lacks the overall spreading distance and strength of the "Jaws" and the fully encompassing cutting action of the "O" Cutter. But its unique all-in-one cutting and spreading capability make it the perfect all-around tool to use for most rescue work.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Spreading force: 13,000 lbs</div> <div> Pulling force: 8,100 lbs</div> <div> Cutting force: 60,000 lbs</div> <div> Opening distance: 16 inches</div> <div> Cutter opening: 9 inches</div> <div> Weight: 38 lbs with fluid & connectors</div> <div> Length: 33 inches</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="389c8710.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="113" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0">Ram</B></div> <div> This tool is used when a very strong "pushing" force is required, as is the case when the dashboard of a vehicle needs to be "pushed" away to free a trapped victim.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Opening force: 21,500 lbs</div> <div> Closing Force: 9,572 lbs </div> <div> Length: units vary from 15 inches closed to 60 inches open</div> <div> Width: 4 inches</div> <div> Height: 9 inches</div> <div> Weight: from 18 to 37 lbs with fluid & connections </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="38bc9a00.jpg" border=0 width="201" height="160" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0"><B>Air Bags</B></div> <div> They come in a variety of sizes, from 6 square inches with a 3 inch lift, up to a 3 foot square bag with a 20 inch lift and a lifting capacity of over 70 tons! Easily inflated with our 4500psi SCBA air cylinders through a control regulator, these bags can also be stacked for more lifting height.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>