Beaumont, Wayne donation helps Wayne Fire Department purchase new, life-saving equipment

The hospital donated $2,500 toward the purchase of the $27,000 equipment. The fire department had been soliciting donations from multiple organizations and community partners for a new set of Jaws of Life since late last year.

“It’s always been important to us to give back to the communities we serve,” said Eric Widner, division president of Beaumont Hospital, Wayne. “This was an easy decision for us. It is vital equipment and it will help save lives.”

The Jaws of Life currently in use by the department is more than 20 years old—and their back-up set is older still, according to Capt. Fred Gilstorff, who has led the fundraising effort. The equipment still works, but it is rapidly approaching the end of its life cycle.

“They are nowhere near as capable as the new units,” Gilstorff said.

The equipment the Wayne department will purchase includes three different tools. It has a spreader to pry things apart, a cutter to create openings in twisted metal and a sort of hydraulic ram that is used to life heavy equipment—like a broken dash board, for example—off a pinned victim. They are also battery powered, while the old equipment runs off hydraulics. They can be put into use faster, meaning that victims pinned in wrecked vehicles can be freed more quickly.

“They’re more powerful and they’re safer for us to use,” said Gilstorff. “It’ll be a vast improvement. This is a big deal for us and we’re very appreciative of Beaumont for this donation."