The Santa Barbara City Fire Department has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to purchase new jaws-of-life extrication equipment used by first responders to safely rescue crash victims trapped inside a vehicle.
 
“We are incredibly grateful for this grant, which will allow us to purchase state-of-the-art rescue tools and provide training to first responders that is critical for the care of people injured in crashes,” said Brian Federmann, Santa Barbara Fire Department, division chief.

“These tools will significantly impact our ability to protect and serve our community, allowing us to respond even more effectively in times of crisis,” he said.
 
In 2022, more than 55,000 crashes across the country involved vehicle extrication, according to National Fire Incident Reporting System data.

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 person to the hospital can be the difference between life and death, according to fire officials.

Federal data reports 42% of people who were killed in car crashes were alive when first responders arrived.
 
Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.