Which tool is commonly used to free people trapped inside a crashed vehicle?

The Jaws of Life is the term commonly used to refer to a hydraulic rescue tool that is specifically designed to extricate people trapped in vehicles involved in accidents. This tool is particularly effective in situations where a vehicle has been severely damaged, and the space around a trapped individual has been compressed, making escape impossible without assistance.

The Jaws of Life operates by using hydraulic pressure to spread, lift, or cut various structural components of the vehicle. This can include the doors, roof, or other parts that may be pinning a victim. The ability to quickly and effectively create an opening allows firefighters and rescue personnel to safely access and remove individuals from the wreckage.

While other tools like the hydraulic spreader (often considered a part of the Jaws of Life system), crowbars, and fire axes have their uses in rescue situations or general firefighting, they do not provide the same level of efficiency and safety as the Jaws of Life in extricating individuals from a vehicle. The full capabilities of the Jaws of Life make it the most recognized and utilized tool for this specific purpose in emergency response scenarios.