Vacaville, Calif. – Vacaville Fire Protection District 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 rescue crash victims trapped inside a vehicle.

"We are thrilled and deeply grateful for this transformative grant, which empowers us to equip our first responders with cutting-edge rescue tools and provide them with vital training to care for crash victims," said Firefighter Justin Harrison of the Vacaville Fire Protection District. "These state-of-the-art tools will be a game-changer for our community, dramatically enhancing our response capabilities in times of crisis and enabling us to serve and protect with even greater impact and efficiency.”

In 2022, more than 55,000 crashes across the country involved vehicle extrication, according to National Fire Incident Reporting System data. Post-crash 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 be the difference between life and death. 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.

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