Cape fire department's 'Jaws of Life' ailing

When all you have is a "golden hour" to save a victim in severe trauma, a problematic piece of rescue equipment can make the difference between saving a life or recovering a body.

The aging "Jaws of Life" extrication tools used by the Cape Girardeau Fire Department to spread apart and cut vehicle metal aren't as powerful or fast as they used to be and firefighters worry they won't last much longer. And, interim chief Mark Hasheider says there are no plans to replace them in the current budget.

"If I had priorities, it'd be in my top five," he said. "But new SCBA, or self-contained breathing apparatus, equipment for the firefighters would come right before that."

Cape Girardeau has used a 1986 Hurst model as the frontline extrication tool in the county since the department took on the responsibility several years ago. There is also a smaller and slightly newer model used as a backup, but it doesn't have as much spreading width. To replace both could cost $60,000 to $100,000, Hasheider said.

"I'm not satisfied to wait until something breaks," he said. "We have to replace something before it breaks down -- for the safety of the community."

But the tool nearly did break down Nov. 29 during an accident on Kingshighway. Firefighters struggled for several minutes to get it working while a victim waited inside a car. It finally gained enough pressure to open the door, but the incident was frightening, said firefighter Jared Unterreiner, who used the 70-pound tool.

'Really frustrating'

"It's really frustrating when you've got someone trapped inside a car and you can't get them out quickly," he said. "I don't think the public really knows the kind of shape we're in."

Most experts recommend using such a tool for 10 years as a frontline device, then moving it to backup status, Hasheider said. Cape Girardeau is approaching 18 years.

"The question has now become 'How old is too old?'" he said.

When Dr. Roy Meyer's son, Greg, was trapped inside a cement truck car earlier this year on Interstate 55, it took rescuers two and a half hours to extricate him. Meyer has since become an advocate for the department, saying it deserves more financial help.

"It's unfortunate we didn't get the right kind of bond issue to get that kind of equipment," he said. "We ought to chip in and do it if they need it."

Nearby Jackson and Perryville have newer equipment. Jackson purchased a second Amkus extrication tool last month for $28,000 with a Homeland Security Department grant, said chief Brad Golden. The first came in 1998 through a budget purchase.

The Perryville Fire Department bought its first Hurst tool in 1984 with donations. The second one, a Hamatro costing $12,000, was bought in 1994 through a budget. Other nearby agencies with tools include Scott City and the East County Fire Protection District.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160