HOW TO USE JAWS OF LIFE

Jaws of life devices are hydraulic shears or cutters. They have been specially designed to rescue or retrieve the bodies of victims of road, rail or aircraft accidents and are used during rescue operations from buildings. These cutting devices are used to free injured persons at accident scenes by cutting through doors, roof beams and hinges.

1. Star grip

2. Main switch

3. Quick exchange battery or power supply

4. Release button for battery and power supply

5. Handle

6. Ventilation slots

7. Blade arms

8. Pivot bolt with secured nut

9. Plastic housing

10. Tool body

11. Protective cover

12. Light

 ATTENTION!

Step 1. Before transporting the equipment, always ensure that the accessories are positioned in such a way that they cannot cause an accident.

Step 2. Wear protective clothing, a safety helmet with visor, protective goggles, protective footwear and gloves and, if necessary, ear protection.

Step 3. Please ensure that no body parts or clothing are caught between the visibly moving parts (e.g. blade arms).

Step 4. Before initial operation, the battery of the rescue device must be fully loaded, using the external charger.

Step 5. Open the device ( ). Turn the star grip in the direction of the corresponding symbol (open) and hold it in this position.

Step 6. Close the device ( ). Turn the star grip in the direction of the corresponding symbol (close) and hold it in this position.

"Dead-man’s" function. Following release, the star grip automatically returns to the central position, fully guaranteeing load retention.

Step 7. Before rescue work can commence, the object must be stabilized in its current position. Ensure that the objects to be worked on are adequately underpinned and/or supported to ensure that there is no risk of sliding or shifting.

Step 8. Cutting. The blades should be positioned at a 90° angle to the object to be cut, if possible. Higher cutting capacities can be achieved by cutting as close as possible to the blade’s pivot point.

Step 9. Once work has been completed, the device arms should be closed until the tips are only a few millimeters apart. This relieves the hydraulic and mechanical strain on the equipment.

Step 10. Clean the rescue device after each operation and grease both the metallic and the mechanically movable parts.

NOTE: Never store the these devices with fully closed arms! By fully closing the arms hydraulic and mechanical tension may develop in the device.

 WARNING!

1. When working close to live components and cables, suitable measures must be taken to avoid current transfers or high-voltage transfers to the equipment.

2. The equipment is filled with hydraulic fluid. This hydraulic fluid can be detrimental to health if it is swallowed or its vapor is inhaled. Direct contact with the skin must be avoided for the same reason.

Only touch broken-off or cut-off parts while wearing protective gloves, as the torn / cut edges can be very sharp.

3. The following may not be cut / squeezed:

- live cables;

- prestressed and hardened parts such as springs, spring steels, steering columns and rollers;

- pipes under gas or liquid pressure;

- compound materials (steel/concrete);

- explosive bodies such as airbag cartridges.

4. Jaws of life are not explosion-protected! When using the devices in potentially explosive environment, the following must be excluded:

- that the device could trigger an explosion.

- that working with the device could trigger an explosion; e.g. sparks may result from cutting an object.

NOTE! When working in areas at risk of explosion, all applicable legal, national and international regulations, standards and safety rules for avoiding explosions must be observed without restriction!

5. The rescue equipment should not come into contact with acids or alkalies. If thisis unavoidable, clean the equipment immediately afterwards with a suitable cleaning agent.

6. Protect the devices against humidity and moisture.

7. The devices are not suitable for underwater use.

8.Never work in a fatigued or intoxicated state!

Exercises

Answer the questions.

1. What are jaws of life devices?

2. What are they used for?

3. What clothing should rescuers wear using jaws of life devices?

4. What should a rescue do to open / close hydraulic shears?

5. What is a "Dead-man’s" function used for?

6. What should a rescue do to cut objects using hydraulic shears?

7. How should jaws of life devices be kept?

8. Why shouldn’t vapor of hydraulic fluid be inhaled?

9. Why mustn’t live cables, springs, pipes under pressure, steel, concrete and explosive bodies like be cut?