Definition

Noun: * A hydraulic rescue tool: "Jaws of Life" is a proprietary brand name for a specific type of hydraulic rescue tool, specifically a spreader-cutter combination, used by emergency personnel. Its primary function is to forcibly pry apart or cut through the metal of a wrecked vehicle to create an opening and extricate people trapped inside.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free the driver from the crushed car.
  • The rescue operation required the Jaws of Life to cut through the vehicle's roof.
  • The Jaws of Life is an essential piece of equipment for any modern fire department.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used generically (a proprietary eponym) to refer to any similar hydraulic extrication tool, even those made by other manufacturers.
  • They didn't have the specific brand, but they used a tool like the Jaws of Life to perform the rescue.

Variants and Related Words

• Hydraulic spreader: A tool that uses hydraulic power to push apart two objects, like a car's door frame.
• Hydraulic cutter: A tool that uses hydraulic power to cut through metal, like a car's steering column or roof posts.
• Extrication tool: A general term for any device used to remove a trapped person from a vehicle or machinery.

Synonyms

• Rescue tool
• Hydraulic rescue tool
• Extrication device

Notes on Meaning

• The name "Jaws of Life" is a registered trademark of Hale Products Inc., a division of IDEX Corporation. It is a classic example of a brand name becoming the common term for a product category (similar to "Kleenex" for tissues or "Xerox" for photocopying).
• The tool is designed to save lives by creating access, hence the dramatic and apt name "Jaws of ."

Noun

1. hydraulic tool inserted into a wrecked vehicle and used to pry the wreckage apart in order to provide access to people trapped inside