The Jaws of Life
Two firefighters from the Lewisville Fire Department are shown demonstrating a Jaws of Life vehicle extrication at a recent gathering of children and adults.
On Thursday, October 9, firefighters from the Lewisville Fire Department demonstrated how the Jaws of Life is used to extricate accident victims. Sponsored by the Lewisville Library, the demonstration took place next to the library, in the parking lot of the G. Galloway Reynolds Community Center.
Children and adults gathered to watch firefighters remove the roof, windshield and door from a wrecked vehicle using the Jaws of Life. The Hurst Jaws of Life model shown in the above photo is a lighter-weight version of the original Jaws of Life and functions as a “combi-tool,” capable of performing various extrication procedures, such as cutting, prying and pulling.
After the roof, windshield and door were removed, the firefighters showed how a patient would be prepared for extrication, loaded onto a backboard and then removed from a wrecked vehicle.
At real-life accident scenes, the goal is to extricate a crash victim within 15-20 minutes, if not sooner. With quick extrication, a patient is more likely to receive hospital or advanced life-support care within what is typically referred to as the “Golden Hour,” thereby improving a patient’s chances of survival.
As scary as an accident can be, it’s reassuring to have technology such as the Jaws of Life available to us, if needed.
Even more reassuring is the presence of the expertly trained personnel of the Lewisville Fire Department who serve our community with dedication and enthusiasm.
To see more photos of this event, please visit the Jaws of Life photo gallery.
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