MIDLAND In an effort to reduce vehicle crash fatalities and injuries across the Permian Basin, the Permian Strategic Partnership and the Permian Road Safety Coalition have partnered to develop a second round of the “First Responder Life-Saving Equipment Initiative.”
The PSP will be giving $3.17 million to fund life-saving equipment to first responders in 26 counties across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. This partnership builds upon the first round of this initiative which was previously funded by the PSP in 2021 with a $1.1 million donation, a news release said.
Specific life-saving equipment needs have been directly identified through close collaboration with Permian Basin first responders. The PSP funding will provide a base-level equipment kit for at least 80 first responder departments with customized equipment and gear to accommodate unique needs that vary across the Permian Basin. This equipment will include components such as medical supply kits, fire extinguishers, wildfire and structure fire protective clothing, gas monitors, mobile lighting tools, and rescue helicopter landing zone kits, the release detailed.
First responding agencies, many of whom are staffed by volunteers, have limited infrastructure and resources that were designed only to respond to local jurisdictions with small populations (less than 10,000). Currently, it is not unusual to see responders travel over an hour by road to respond to calls for assistance. This life-saving equipment will give first responders a chance to aid victims and prevent fatalities in otherwise survivable crashes while waiting for additional help to arrive on the scene, the release said.
First responder agencies receiving this equipment are located in the Texas counties of Andrews, Borden, Brewster, Crane, Culberson, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Jeff Davis, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, Winkler, and Yoakum; and the New Mexico counties of Eddy, Lea and Chaves. Equipment will be distributed throughout 2022 and 2023.
