Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services awarded grant for new extrication equipment
Grant will enable the purchase of two sets of battery-powered tools which will replace aging hydraulic tools
– The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services grant funding in the amount of $82,000 to purchase new extrication equipment. Extrication tools are a key component of Atascadero’s rescue response and can be used to disentangle a trapped victim from a wrecked vehicle. The grant will enable the purchase of two sets of battery-powered tools which will replace aging hydraulic tools currently on the first-out engines at each station.
Technology advances in vehicle manufacturing oftentimes require modern extrication tools to be effective when cutting or separating a compromised vehicle away from crash victims. Advances in battery-powered cutters and spreaders, often referred to as the “Jaws of Life” by civilians, will allow an expedited deployment of tools from the engine to the crash site. These new specialty tools are also powerful enough to be effective in extrication operations of modern vehicles with hardened steel.
“Seconds matter when responding to a vehicle accident and this grant is critical in our ability to effect a timely rescue and extract a victim to render emergency medical care,” explains Battalion Chief Matt Miranda. Reducing vehicle collision rescue times allows for quicker patient treatment and transport to the hospital, which increases the survival rate of those critically injured. These new battery-powered tools will increase the capabilities of first responders during vehicle extrications and will be funded by the recently awarded OTS grant through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
