Accident victims will be more quickly extracted now that the Police Department possesses its own Jaws for Life, equipment used to cut through cars wrecked in accidents.

John and Rina Bedford, in collaboration with the Rotary Club, Anguilla, and community members, purchased the equipment that was officially handed over to the Police Department on Friday, 11th July.

“We had heard about this equipment from friends who explained that if you could get someone out of a vehicle within … the golden hour or less, and get them to skilled medical care, their lives can … be saved,” remarked Mr. Bedford during the ceremony outside the Police Station in the Valley.
In addition to thanking the members of his club and the various corporate sponsors, Courtney Devonish, President of the Rotary Club, referred to an accident that took place in 2001 in The Farrington and remarked that had the Jaws for Life been available then, he felt that there would have been no loss of life.

“The Royal Anguilla Police Force is pleased with the corporate support that we get from corporate citizens and other service clubs and individuals … Any kind of [support] that we get from such supporters is intended to go back into the community. This equipment will be no exception; it will be used for the entire island… We hope that we would never have to use it because we would not want persons to get involved in an accident so serious that would warrant us to use this equipment…” said Keithly Benjamin, Commissioner of Police, in expressing his gratitude to the donors of the Jaws for Life.
Members of the Police Department underwent training this week into the use of the Jaws for Life with trainer Charles Poirer assisted by Peter Quinn. The equipment is not unfamiliar territory, as the Department usually borrowed one from the Fire Department when the need arose.

Corporate co-sponsors of this device are Caribbean Commercial Bank; Anguilla Cable Television; MAICO; Hibernia; Keithley Lake and Associates; Scotia Bank; National Bank of Anguilla; Apex Car Rental; Triple K; Highway Car Rental; Anguilla Motors; Anguilla Community Foundation and Jerry Riskin.

Mr. Bedford presents Jaws For Life to Commissioner Benjamin

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