It’s a life-saving technique that requires speed and accuracy. Eatonton City Fire Department firefighters participated in hands-on training Thursday night, Sept. 8, on the Jaws of Life cutting tool.
Eatonton Fire Chief Eugene Hubert said the training was primarily for the department’s newest firefighters, but all the city’s firefighters participated so they could keep up their experience and certification on using the Jaws of Life.
“This extrication equipment is another example of your local SPLOST dollars at work keeping our community safe,” Eatonton Mayor John Reid said. “We are proud of the commitment that our firefighters make to training and to being prepared to serve our community in times of need. These tools in the hands of our dedicated firefighters could save countless lives over the coming years.”
The Jaws of Life tools allow rescuers to cut through car frames to remove a victim from a car in which the doors cannot be opened. The city of Eatonton purchased some a couple of years ago using SPLOST funds, Hubert said. All of the city’s firefighters are certified through GEMA to use the power tools. They also are trained to use other extrication tools such as O-Rings and Spreaders.
The degree of difficulty to use the Jaws of Life depends on the situation, the fire chief explained. He said the tool weighs 62 pounds, so if the rescuer has to hold it over his or her head to use it, that obviously would make it more difficult than using it straight on. It also is used to keep a piece of wreckage from falling on rescuers or victims, he said.