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.
The tools operate on the basis of hydraulic fluid pressure of up to 720 bar, which must be provided from a power source. At present, there are 3 different means of generating the pressure. The most commonly used source is a separate power unit, which is a small petrol (gasoline) engine connected to a hydraulic pump.