Hydraulic rescue tools
（重定向自Hydraulic spreader）
![A ram used to push the forward block (motor and dashboard) away from the driver. In this photo the driver's seat can be seen at the right. The steering wheel has been bent upwards, and the driver's door has been removed. The front driver's-side wheel can be seen at left. Driver and front passenger airbags have deployed, and can be seen as piles of white fabric. The Holmatro ram can be seen in the lower portion of the picture.](/Images/godic/202501/19/Desincarceration_demibloc_avant5619.jpeg")
![Hydraulic cutter in use during a demonstration at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico City.](/Images/godic/202501/19/03262012Demonstraciones_rescate_erum_fabian_acuña1375619.JPG")
![A hydraulic spreader in use, seen here widening a window on the door of a Volkswagen Golf Mk2 to allow fire crews access into the vehicle.](/Images/godic/202501/19/Spreizer_schlossoeffnung5619.jpg")
![Hydraulic shears](/Images/godic/202501/19/Extrication_cutter_15619.jpg")
Hydraulic rescue tools are used by emergency rescue personnel to assist vehicle extrication of crash victims, as well as other rescues from small spaces. These tools include cutters, spreaders, and rams. They are popularly referred to in the English-speaking Commonwealth nations and the US as the Jaws of Life, a trademark of Hurst Performance Inc. The Jaws of Life were first used in 1963 as a tool to free race car drivers from their vehicles after crashes.