by John Beasley
The Benton County Rescue Squad (BCRS) had another successful fundraiser at the 2022 Benton County Fair this year. The squad has operated a food booth at the fairgrounds each year dating back to the 1970s, and the event has become one of the biggest annual fundraisers for the squad.
“Our fair burgers have become a big hit over the years, and people look forward to coming out and eating with us at the fair. The public has always been generous in supporting our organization, and we use all of the proceeds to fund our operations and purchase new equipment when needed,” stated BCRS Captain Dwayne Presson.
This year, the BCRS has a specific goal to purchase a new set of Hurst spreaders or “jaws of life” to replace the older unit that has been in service since 1979. The jaws are an essential tool that spreads metal to make space to extricate someone trapped in a wrecked vehicle. According to Presson, the old unit is very durable and has been used in many extrication operations over the years, but it’s time for an upgrade.
“Modern automobiles are manufactured with much stronger metals and alloys such as boron, and rescue extrication tools now require a higher cutting strength and spreading force,” added BCRS Training Coordinator David Tuck. “Due to the generosity and support of the Benton County citizens, we are closer to upgrading one of the most used tools in our arsenal, our jaws of life.”
According to Tuck, the older jaws weigh approximately 90 pounds, and sometimes require two operators to perform an extrication in certain difficult situations. Today’s modern hydraulic tools are much lighter and produce a much greater cutting and spreading force to meet the modern-day demands of increased crash safety standards in most automobiles. More efficient extrication saves time, which in a crash situation saves lives.
To supplement annual fundraising efforts, BCRS has added a “donate” button on its Facebook page. People can now easily support the rescue squad financially through a safe and secure means. “We already have started to receive contributions from the community generated from our Facebook ‘donate’ feature,” according to BCRS Treasurer Brad Mills. “It’s a convenient way to support our organization.”
BCRS is always looking to recruit dedicated people who are willing to serve the community. Anyone interested in joining the rescue squad is encouraged to visit BCRS headquarters at 295 Factory Street in Camden to learn more about opportunities to serve and the membership requirements. Information about joining and applications for membership are available during BCRS meetings on the first and third Tuesdays each month at 7 p.m.
The Benton County Rescue Squad is a 501c3 organization in Benton County, formed in 1969, and is staffed by an active membership of dedicated volunteers from the community who continually train to be able to respond to many types of accidents. In addition to motor vehicle extrication, the BCRS provides other vital services such as farm rescue, water rescue and recovery, land searches, and trench rescue.
If you would like to donate to help BCRS purchase new a Hurst jaws of life, visit their Facebook page at Benton County Rescue Squad and click the donate button. Your donation will help this great group of volunteers continue to perform the lifesaving work they do for Benton County.
