The next time they respond to a vehicle accident, new equipment will help the Seneca City Fire Department.
The department formally received an extrication equipment kit on Friday afternoon from St. John’s Mercy Health of Joplin Foundation.
The equipment — a power unit, a hydraulic cutter, spreader and a ram unit – will be stored in the back of Engine #2. Commonly known as the “jaws of life,” the extrication kit lets firefighters cut through mangled vehicles, spread them apart and lift materials out of the way.
The foundation has provided heart defibrillators and extrication equipment to regional first responders in more than 59 cities and towns. It was Seneca City’s first application to the Mercy Health Foundation and they received nearly $18,000 of equipment.
“If it saves one life, it’s worth millions of dollars,” said Fire Chief Darren King.
The equipment arrived Thursday afternoon and the next day Treva Kennedy, president of Mercy Health of Joplin Foundation, and Dr. Anthony Greenwood, chairman of the foundation board, visited Seneca for an official presentation. Regional donors support the foundation’s work.
“Our foundation and the Mercy Systems – that is the new sponsor for St. John’s – our focus is to be aware of community needs,” Greenwood said.
The city had a similar set of tools, but parts are hard to find. This set replaces a kit purchased used in 1988. They had applied for grants and tried to raise funds for a new set and were grateful that the foundation came through.
Bruce Jeffers, Seneca City fire service instructor, called the group heroes.
“There’s no way we could have done this without the foundation,” he said.
With the expansion of the city in the past couple of years, Seneca City has expanded the service area for its all-volunteer department from Antelope to the state line and from Lucy to Highway 60. Seneca City Fire Department also has cooperative agreements with Neosho, Redings Mill, Seneca Rural, Tiff City, Peoria, Okla., and Wyandotte, Okla., fire departments.
Seneca, Mo. —
