Santa Barbara County Fire Department awarded $70,000 grant for rescue equipment

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Santa Barbara County Fire Department was awarded a $70,000 grant on Thursday from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for new crash rescue tools.

Extrication equipment, also known as the "Jaws of Life," are the tools first responders use to break open a wrecked vehicle that has a victim trapped inside.

“This newer equipment is lighter and easier to use, allowing us to rescue victims faster, which ultimately increases their chances of survival,” said Santa Barbara County Fire Department Operations Division Chief Woody Enos. 

Santa Barbara County Fire said that delays in removing a victim from a crash can impact the patient's "golden hour" which is the critical timeframe for paramedics to quickly treat the patient before they arrive at the hospital.

The department says they have responded to 703 crashes this year, 30 of which have required the extrication of a victim.