Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District recently announced that it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to purchase new extrication equipment. First responders use specialized tools such as Jaws of Life and additional critical extraction equipment to safely rescue crash victims trapped inside a vehicle.
“We are incredibly grateful for this grant, which will allow us to purchase state-of-the-art rescue tools and provide training to first responders that is critical for the care of people injured in crashes,” Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District Chief Jack Rosevear said. “These tools will significantly impact our ability to protect and serve our community, allowing us to respond even more effectively in times of crisis.”
Postcrash care is vital in preventing serious injuries from turning deadly. Delays in providing expedient care impacts survival chances. Reducing the time it takes to get to the patient, treating what can be treated and transporting the patient to the hospital can mean the difference between life and death, said Rosevear.
According to federal data, 42% of people who were killed in car crashes were alive when first responders arrived. New Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue tools will help first responders deliver life-saving measures for patients trapped in vehicles, significantly increasing chances of survival, said Rosevear.
Additionally, the grant provides the funding to purchase two sets of airbags needed for extraction purposes, with one set being a Maxiforce heavy truck kit with capacity of up to 44.6 tons. Rosevear said these airbags provide various lifting and stabilization options and are the latest technology for optimum strength, durability and rapid deployment.
Overall, these new tools can improve extraction time by as much as 10 to 15 minutes, said Rosevear.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
