Penn Valley, Calif. – Penn Valley Fire Protection District (PVFPD) announced today that it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to purchase new extrication equipment. Known as the “jaws of life,” first responders use these specialized tools to safely reach crash victims faster.
“Traffic accidents are a leading cause of traumatic injury in the Penn Valley and Rough & Ready communities. Without these lifesaving tools, the PVFPD would not be able to quickly access and remove trauma patients at the scene of a traffic accident so that they can receive the lifesaving care they need. The Golden Hour starts the second the crash occurs and any delay increases the risk of death or permanent injury for the victims. Every second truly counts when ensuring the continued health and lives of our residents, visitors and the public at large,” said Fire Chief Clayton Thomas.
Post-crash care is vital to saving lives. Delays in providing critical care impacts survival chances. Between 2019 and 2023, 43% of people killed in crashes nationally were still alive when first responders arrived. New hydraulic rescue tools will reduce the time it takes to access crash victims and help first responders deliver life-saving measures for patients trapped in vehicles.
“When crashes happen, time is of the essence to save lives,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “By equipping first responders with the right tools, we’re helping crash victims get to critical care faster and significantly increase their chance of survival.”
The grant program runs through September 2027.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.