Crime & Safety

Photo Gallery: Brighton Area Fire Authority Trains With Jaws of Life

Firefighters use cars loaned by Ford Motor Company to train with hydraulic and battery operated Jaws of Life Wednesday morning.

Brighton Area Firefighters got a double dose of Jaws of Life training on Wednesday morning at .

Firefighters were able to try out the authority's new battery-operated Jaws of Life as well as keep up with motor trend technology by cutting new model cars loaned by Ford Motor Company.

Jaws of Life are a collection of tools first responders use to rescue people who are trapped in a vehicle after an accident.

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Brighton Area Fire Marshal Michael O'Brian said they received six vehicles ranging everywhere from a Ford Mustang GT to an Econoline Van.

"It allows our staff to be very current on what is going on in the technology arena. It used to be we could just do what we needed to do for what was best for the patient. Now, if we cut a pillar, there could be airbag cylinders in there that could create damage if we cut into them. So it's really important for our staff to see how the vehicles are laid out, how our tools match up against the new technology that exits - the new metals - and it's really important for them to have a very good understanding of how to take these vehicles apart. So when we're faced with an emergency scene, they've got some experience and training on how to take it apart."

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O'Brian said that because the Authority covers 24 miles of freeway, being efficient on extracation techniques, speed and skill are key.

Dennis Lark, of the Ford Motor Company legal staff, explained how Ford loans the cars to local fire departments and allows them to do anything they want, training-wise. Afterwards, they must give them back to Ford, which will then dispose of them.

The program began in 1989 with the Dearborn Fire Department.

"It started through the long retired fire chief - I know the man personally - he wanted to know if there were any vehicles that his guys could train on to keep up with the latest technology," Lark said. "Because who's going to give somebody a two year old car or a year old car and say, 'go ahead cut it up and give it back when you're done?' It's just not done. That's how it started. Now it's evolved into this pretty good-sized program that benefits thousands of firefighters."

According to Lark, Ford loans out anywhere between 150 to 250 cars a year for this program. Ford cars have gone to fire departments in 28 cities so far this year.

Ford loans the cars to area fire departments for free while the departments themselves pay a preparation fee for removing things like the gas tank and wiring air bags for demonstrations.

"The pools we draw these vehicles out of - they were going to be scrapped anyway," Lark said. "For one reason or another, they were determined that they couldn't be resold. Parts could not be removed, they must be crushed and recycled so they could be another car, another day. It's not like Ford's going into the dealerships and saying, 'give Brighton this one and this one.' So this is virtually a no cost program to Ford Motor Company. It just circumvents the scrap process a little bit. It's a good way to use cars that are going to be thrown away anyways."

Lark said Ford Motor Company is the only automobile manufacturer to have this kind of program at this level.

On Wednesday, Brighton firefighters trained on the last two cars - a Ford Mustang GT and an Explorer Sport Trac truck. The cars were arranged in an accident scenario to best simulate a real life extraction situation.

"It adds to the work environment," O'Brian said. "It's easy to cut a car in a wide open parking lot, but in reality, they're up against other cars, wrapped around trees, flipped over or resting sideways."

Brighton Area Fire Authority Shift Lt. Ryan Sovey and Lt. Curt Ruf advised and demonstrated the best ways to use both the hydraulic and battery-operated Jaws of Life equipment.

The Authority obtained the battery-operated Jaws of Life about two weeks ago, after the Engine 32 truck was refurbished. The 34 truck is currently being outfitted with them as well.

O'Brian said that the battery-powered Jaws of Life add to the authority's capabilities.

"The battery options, the technology options nowadays has just been unbelievable," he said. "We are changing that technology to meet what's going on and it gives us a lot more options in the field. We're not limited anymore, by how far our cable can stretch."

Sovey added that they can even be taken into a fire.

"These are great because we can take them into a structure," Sovey said about the battery powered machines. "If one of our guys gets trapped inside, if something falls on him, we'll be able to take these right in with us."


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