HURST Jaws Of Life Exhibits The Latest eDRAULIC Watertight Extrication Tool (EWXT) Line At FDIC International 2019

FDIC International 2019 was one of the most exciting shows in recent years, thanks to the debut of the HURST Jaws of Life’s eDRAULIC watertight extrication tool (EWXT) line, the industry’s first battery-powered watertight rescue tool.

HURST Jaws of Life had a great time demonstrating the S 788EWXT and SP 555EWXT, with the tools submerged in 75-gallon water tanks, at the company’s booth at FDIC International 2019 exhibition. Fast-forward just a few weeks and the tools were still underwater. But this time, they were in the water with them.

HURST Jaws of Life’s EWXT rescue tools

HURST Jaws of Life spent several days in Texas, at Fathom Academy, the only indoor swift water and flood training facility, located in the U.S. The company’s rescue specialists trained in controlled pool environments, with HURST Jaws of Life’s EWXT rescue tools, in a variety of water scenarios with rain, thunder, lightning, sirens and spotlights.

The key takeaways were many, particularly related to the lack of visibility in underwater tool operations

The key takeaways were many, particularly related to the lack of visibility in underwater tool operations and how that impediment impacts standard operating procedures (SOPs) for first responders, who are accustomed to traditional land rescues.

Listed below are three key learnings that HURST Jaws of Life will be sharing with dealers, trainers and end users, as they begin to make HURST Jaws of Life’s EWXT tools, as part of their rescue gear.

Attacking the hinges from a vertical position

It’s only natural to cut a door hinge with a tool in an ergonomically agreeable position, which is at the waist and coming at the hinge from a horizontal position. However, when the vehicle is underwater with limited visibility, people may not know the height of the hinge.

What HURST Jaws of Life will be teaching moving forward for extrications in waist-deep water is to attack the hinge from a vertical position, which aids in finding the hinge location. The hinge is always mounted on the A post or B post, so if following the post down from a vertical line, the operator will find the hinge. Then, on turning the tool’s control valve, they will hit it.

This new approach changed the speed of the extrication dramatically for HURST Jaws of life, during their training exercises, and as everyone knows, every second counts in any extrication, and even more so in submerged situations.

Tool light helps in underwater rescues

Many factors can impact visibility in a water rescue. These include murky water, agitated water, rain and the availability of natural light. HURST Jaws of Life found that tool lighting is a key benefit in a submerged rescue situation.

Both the EWXT spreader and cutter have two LED lights to illuminate the front of the tool

Both the EWXT spreader and cutter have two LED lights to illuminate the front of the tool and the Ram 521EWXT has four (two on the front, two on the back). However, in some situations, the company tests found additional mounted lighting had a significant advantage.

The EWXT line shares many features with HURST Jaws of Life’s E2 line, including the ability to mount additional lighting on the spreaders, with the built-in Picatinny rail. These additional high-lumen lights can prove critical lighting in very bad visibility or dark situations.

Spotters and senses

HURST Jaws of Life also tested an approach, where they designated one rescue specialist as a tool placement spotter. The company learned that having a third person on hand for tool placement is an important aid, especially when visibility is low.

The tool placement spotter concentrates on finding the purchase point, while the tool operator focuses on the tool position. This approach requires constant and clear communication, with no exceptions.

Quiet operation and effective communication

One of the benefits of HURST Jaws of Life’s battery-powered eDRAULIC tools is how quiet E2 tools operate, making it easier for first responders to communicate with each other at the scene. Put the EWXT version of the already-quiet tool underwater and it’s even quieter, which means the operator needs to be keenly aware that their only physical sense of the tool running may be the vibrations.

The operator also should always be highly aware of their hand position, in relation to the control valve

The operator also should always be highly aware of their hand position, in relation to the control valve, ensuring there is no risk of tool activation, prior to knowing all is clear. Additionally, those first responders around the operator may not hear the tool, when it is activated, so they must stay alert, rely on their other senses and be engaged in team communication, in order to ensure everyone’s safety.

Use learning in underwater extrications

As first responders begin receiving their EWXT tools in August 2019, they should remember that what HURST Jaws of Life learned at the Fathom Academy, in Texas, led to finding a few different ways of operating during in-water extrications, out of necessity.

First responders need to keep in mind that approaching the operation similarly to a roadside extrication will lead to considerable challenges, so HURST Jaws of Life encourage this more difficult scenario-based training to take place at all fire safety and rescue departments. The different challenges it presents will surprise many in the fire safety industry.

Everybody knows that no two rescue situations are ever the same, but frequent scenario-based training can help reveal new best practices, as it did for HURST Jaws of Life and can help improve patient packaging times, under adverse conditions.