MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Fire Department is the recipient of a $70,000 grant to purchase new extrication equipment referred to as “the jaws of life.” The grant funding was provided through the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Example of jaws of life in action.
Madera County Fire Department Assistant Chief Matthew Watson stated that “This new equipment will help reduce the time it takes for us to safely reach someone who needs immediate medical attention.” The “jaws of life” is a specialized tool used by first responders to extricate crash victims safely if they are trapped inside a vehicle. This can prevent delays in providing care to crash victims in the “golden hour” of survival which is a core principal in the emergency medical services industry.
According to Assistant Chief Watson, “Without the OTS grant funding, we would not be able to purchase modern rescue tools and extrication equipment that is critical for the care of those injured in crashes within Madera County.” By reducing the time it takes to get to a patient, treating what can be treated, and transporting the patient to the hospital, it can help increase their chances for recovery.
