The Big Walnut Joint Fire District recently received a grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation to purchase new life saving emergency rescue tools. The need to apply for this grant was a vital one for the department as they were in need to replace the then, 35 plus year old cutters, spreaders (aka Jaws of Life) and rams.
These tools are used to rescue and cut out trapped victims from the wreckage of an auto accident. The tools were beginning to lose their cutting and spreading power that is vital in an emergency situation. They were very heavy and most of the time awkward to maneuver with the long high pressure hydraulic hoses. When BWJFD was awarded the grant, they purchased new E-draulic Rescue tools that are operated with a battery.
With the purchase of the new tools, BWJFD had to remove the old tools from the responding apparatus and place them out of service. The idea was find a way for the old tools to serve a purpose. The idea was to donate the old tools to the North Central Ohio Fire Training Academy in Mount Gilead. Many firefighters from BWJFD and other surrounding departments have attended the local training academy to further their fire education and firefighting career. They tools can help the school provide a more hands on experience and education to the firefighter students by having tools designated only for training purposes. It will get the students use to operating the heavy hydraulic tools while giving the opportunity advance in their skills to extricate victims of an accident.
There to accept the donated hydraulic rescue tools on behalf of the North Central Ohio Fire Training Academy were MGFD Lt. Chad Swank and Lt. Joe Coil.
Submitted by Rocki Huddleston, Firefighter / Public Information Coordinator.
