Grant Valued at $93,000 Will Help Reduce Vehicle Accident Extrication Times and Improve Patient Survivability
CONCORD, CA– Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) today announced it, along with East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) has received a grant from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety for emergency medical service vehicle extrication equipment. The grant for both districts totals $93,000.
Extrication equipment will be purchased and used by both Con Fire and ECCFPD to help reduce vehicle accident extrication times and improve patient survivability rates by reducing the time it takes to effect rescues of accident victims from vehicles.
“We are grateful for this important grant that will help us respond to accidents more quickly, extricate victims faster, and save lives,” said Charles Stark, Assistant Chief, Operations, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “The new extrication equipment we put into service early next year will improve dramatically on our existing tools making it easier to deploy and be more effective at the accident scene.”
“Our aging extrication equipment made it purchasing new equipment critical. With this grant, we are replacing two 15-year-old sets of extrication tools with new, state-of-the-art equipment that will allow us to be faster and more efficient at extricating victims from vehicle accidents,” said Brian Helmick, Fire Chief, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. “This is a fantastic opportunity provided by the State of California Office of Traffic Safety and we thank them for this grant.”
The grant will fund the purchase of three complete sets of state-of-the-art extrication equipment, including cutters, spreaders, rams, power units and back-up power and accessories. Con Fire is purchasing one set of Hurst eDraulic® tools for Fire Station 69’s rescue squad, while ECCFPD is purchasing two sets of Amkus rescue tools for Fire Stations 52 and 59. The new equipment will be stronger, lighter and more readily put into action than the aging extrication tools currently used by both districts. All equipment is expected to be placed in service in early 2019.
About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District is a recognized fire service leader providing fire and emergency medical services to more than a million people across a 304 square-mile area, in and around the 20 cities of Contra Costa County, California. In 2017, the District responded to nearly 74,000 fire and EMS emergencies and provided expert medical care in the conduct of more than 75,000 ambulance transports. The District with 25 fire stations and nearly 400 employees is dedicated to the preservation of life, property and the environment.
About East Contra Costa Fire Protection District
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District is a rural funded fire district that protects approximately 249 square miles and more than 115,000 residents. The District provides firefighting personnel and emergency medical services (basic life support) to the residents and businesses of the City of Brentwood, and Oakley, and to the Townships of Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Marsh Creek, and Morgan Territory. ECCFPD currently has three fire stations staffed by three firefighters each, for a total district staffing of nine firefighters per day. The district responds to more than 7,500 calls a year that depends on approximately 9,000 fire engine responses.
