The Wow We Jaws of Life kit (SP_01) is a favourite Technology / PAT project because learners can see hydraulics working in their hands — syringes, tubing, and a wooden gripper that opens and closes under pressure.
This guide explains the idea behind the kit, how to plan the build, and where to buy it in South Africa.
### What this project teaches
• Hydraulics / fluid pressure (force transferred through liquid in a closed system)
• Mechanical advantage (linkages turning syringe motion into gripping force)
• Design–make–evaluate skills for PAT write-ups
Real rescue “jaws of life” tools use high-pressure hydraulics. This school kit is a safe classroom model of that idea — not a real rescue tool.
### Kit facts (Wow We SP_01)
• Product: Jaws of Life School Project Kit (SP_01)
• Approx. size noted on site: 36 × 20 × 8 cm
• Material: laser-cut wooden parts with syringe-style hydraulic actuation
• Made in South Africa by Wow We
• Shop: https://www.wowwe.co.za/products/jaws-of-life-school-projects
• Landing page: https://www.wowwe.co.za/pages/jaws-of-life-school-project
• Teachers hub: https://www.wowwe.co.za/pages/for-teachers-caps-pat-school-project-kits
Check the live product page for current price, stock, and what’s in the box.
### What you may need besides the kit
• Wood glue
• Clean water (or the fluid your instructions specify) for the syringes
• Paper towel for spills
• Optional paint for the finished model
### Suggested classroom plan
1. Intro: pressure in liquids; why rescue tools use hydraulics
2. Dry-fit wooden parts and identify gripper vs control syringe
3. Assemble structure; let glue dry
4. Connect tubing; fill carefully with minimal air bubbles
5. Test open/close; try gripping a soft object
6. PAT write-up: labelled diagram, method, results, improvements
### Common mistakes
• Air bubbles in the tubing (soft / spongy feel)
• Over-tightening joints so the mechanism binds
• Skipping dry-fit and gluing the wrong orientation
• Testing before glue is fully set
### Related Wow We kits
• Electromagnet Crane (circuits + magnetism): https://www.wowwe.co.za/products/electromagnet-crane-school-projects-sp-03a
• Crane build guide: https://www.wowwe.co.za/blogs/news/grade-7-electromagnet-crane-project-guide
• Bridge (structures): https://www.wowwe.co.za/products/school-projects-kit-bridge-a-sp-05b
### Buy the kit
https://www.wowwe.co.za/products/jaws-of-life-school-projects
School orders: WhatsApp +27 81 544 3750
All school kits: https://www.wowwe.co.za/collections/school-project-kits
FAQ: https://www.wowwe.co.za/pages/wow-we-faq-school-kits-models-shipping
Wow We is a South African maker of laser-cut STEM kits — not affiliated with woww.co.za or WowWee.
