Verde Valley Fire District was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $23,739 from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) for extrication equipment. Along with $9,445 in District funds, this grant will provide a set of battery-operated extrication tools, including a spreader, cutter and ram. This battery-operated equipment replaces hydraulic extrication tools (e.g. jaws of life). The new equipment is capable of handling the much stronger hybrid materials being used in modern vehicle manufacture. Did you know that not wearing a seat belt was associated with higher deaths, major trauma and a longer hospital stay? Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death during the first 30 years of American lives (GOHS).