New 'Jaws of Life' cutter will improve response times

BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Members of the Canning Fire Department hope that response times will be improved with a new “Jaws of Life” cutter purchased with the assistance of a grant from the Eastern Kings Memorial Community Health Foundation (EKMCHF).

Deputy Chief Scott Cruickshank said the new cutter is designed for new car construction. It has heavier blades than the original “Jaws of Life” the department has been using since it was purchased in 1990. The older piece of equipment tends to pinch metal more effectively than cut through it.

He said the $8,000 grant from the EKMCHF helped the department purchase the tool and the necessary new connection hoses as well as a book entitled, “The Rescuer’s Guide to Vehicle Safety Systems”. The guide will help firefighters determine the best points to cut into particular vehicles to avoid unnecessary damages and to help ensure the safety of emergency responders. For example, a lot of higher end, newer cars have numerous airbags to be aware of.

“You have to be careful where you cut,” Cruickshank said. “It’s a very important book to have for safety.”

Tremendous support

The department undertook fundraising to cover the remaining costs once the grant was applied to the purchase and the department will make a contribution in the form of training members to use the new equipment.

Cruickshank said the EKMCHF has been a tremendous supporter of the department. Grants from the foundation over the years have helped pay for a four-wheeler and rescue trailer, thermal imaging camera, ice rescue equipment, generator, Emergency Measures comfort centre and more.

“They’re a huge supporter and we wouldn’t have that equipment without their support,” he said.

The new cutter will make the extrication process easier and more efficient, potentially saving lives through quicker response times. Cruickshank said emergency responders have what they call the “golden hour” in which they make every effort to get an injured individual to the hospital within one hour of a crash or other incident. Because of the geography covered by the Canning department, that can sometimes be challenging.

“If you have a tool that saves minutes or seconds, it can make a big difference,” said Deputy Chief Jeff Skaling.