12 March 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Three local fire departments received $91,211 in equipment grants from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
An equipment dedication event was held at the Firehouse Subs Derby Rock, where the Derby Fire Department, Mulvane Fire Department, and Sedgwick County Fire District 1 all received a check to purchase the equipment.
The Derby Fire Department received a vehicle stabilization kit valued at $35,936. A news release says stabilization struts are the first step in the extrication process and allow for a fast and safe rescue of patients following motor vehicle accidents.
The Mulvane Fire Department and Sedgwick County Fire District 1 both received extrication equipment valued at $55,275.
Derby Fire Chief John Turner said they already have something similar to the equipment they will receive, but the new equipment is safer and will make it more possible to save lives.
“Before this equipment, we had to use a lot of traditional wood, which takes time, and it’s not as safe,” Turner said. “It doesn’t have as high of a lift factor that this equipment does. This will save 10 times the amount of time to get somebody out and obviously make it much safer. The faster we can get them out, the faster we can get the patient care, the faster we can get them to the hospital and higher probability we’re going to have a positive outcome.”