Sonora, CA…Tuolumne County Fire Department (TCFD) is the recipient of a $136,000 grant to purchase new extrication equipment. Known as the “jaws of life,” first responders use these specialized tools to safely rescue crash victims trapped inside a vehicle.

“This new equipment will help reduce the time it takes for us to safely reach someone who needs immediate medical attention,” said TCFD Assistant Chief Andrew Murphy. “Without the OTS grant funding, we would not be able to purchase modern rescue tools critical for the care of those injured in crashes.”

In accordance with the regional crash response and extrication improvement program, rescue equipment purchased with this grant will benefit the communities of: TCFD Station 51 Mono Village, TCFD Station 55 Pinecrest, Twain Harte Community Services District Fire Department, Mi Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District, and Columbia Fire Protection District.

Delays in providing care to crash victims impacts the “golden hour” of survival, a core principle in the emergency medical services industry. Reducing the time it takes to get to the patient, treat what can be treated, and transport the patient to the hospital helps increase the chance for recovery.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.