A “Jaws of Life” Rescue”

After a horrendous collision in Fort Lauderdale, a woman and man were extricated from their vehicles by the local fire department and rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. It was one of many times that the assistance of the fire department led to a positive outcome for victims of an accident.

When a Rescue is Needed 

What could be more terrifying than being trapped in an overturned vehicle, knowing you’re injured, but also knowing there’s no possible way to escape on your own?  The arrival of assistance would be a genuine relief—the calming voice of rescuers, and the sound of the tools designed to permit your escape.

How Does it Work? 

Although some people may believe that the Jaws of Life refers to a specific tool, the truth is that it actually references a whole array of rescue tools. They are all hydraulic, and include cutters, spreaders, and rams that are used to extricate victims from mangled vehicles after a crash. The hydraulics create extreme force, allowing the tools to cut and pry tons of steel that trap individuals in their vehicles. The tools operate with a variety of power sources, including electricity, pneumatics, or gasoline, depending on the situation. Compressible fluids that are both fire resistant and electrical non-conductors are generally preferred at crash scenes.

Time Matters 

In a serious accident, minutes matter.  For someone who is trapped in a smashed-up vehicle, injuries that could be fatal need to be tended to quickly. Mortality rates are directly linked to emergency response time. A quick arrival and intervention correlates to timely stabilization of victims, appropriate triaging, and quicker transport to hospitals. When someone is trapped inside a vehicle, the additional time it takes to operate a rescue can be costly if rescuers do not have the tools they need.  That’s why the Jaws of Life are so critical in serious collision scenarios. In just three minutes, a person can be rescued from a crushed vehicle by emergency responders who have these tools. Once extricated, a medical team can provide emergency interventions and get the patient into an ambulance, which means extensive medical services are within reach.  None of this would be possible without the Jaws of Life. One company boasts more than 24,000 saved lives!

After the Crash 

If you’ve suffered through the trauma of a collision that left you trapped in your vehicle, none of this is news to you.  What you may not know is that if the accident was the result of another driver’s recklessness or negligence, you may be entitled to significant damages to address medical bills, lost wages, emotional pain and suffering, and more.  To discuss the possibilities, schedule a confidential consultation with a knowledgeable and empathetic Kissimmee personal injury attorney at Salazar & Kelly Law Group in our office today.

Source:

cbsnews.com/miami/news/man-and-woman-rushed-to-hospital-with-serious-injuries-after-fort-lauderdale-crash/