More than 37,000 people die in road crashes annually in the US, according to the Association of Safe International Road Travel. An additional 2.35 million are either injured or disabled, according to the association.

Reading those statistics and more regarding the outcome of road wrecks has made me truly appreciate the Valley Grande Council’s decision to donate $20,000 to the purchase of quality equipment for the Valley Grande Fire Department.

Thanks to their generosity, the department will receive a spreader and cutter that can release people trapped in their vehicles following a severe automobile accident.

I never understood how much updated tools were needed until I heard the fire department explain to Valley Grande Council that new-aged cars are built with reinforced steel pipe that can makes it virtually impossible to access wreck victims trapped inside of the “hard cars” with outdated tools.

Like the department and council, my fear of someone losing their life or being injured further as a result made it easy to support the purchase of these tools.

The S700 E2 Cutter is a battery-powered device able to cut through high-strength steel of current and future vehicle construction, while the SP300 E2 Spreader can grip and penetrate the narrowest gap.

Not only will these tools aid the department in their work, but it will also help the entire county. Officials said Monday they are willing to share their tools with local first responders when they need them.

Although the tools come with a $20,000 price tag, it’s well worth the cost when you consider how many it will help.

I’m glad to know these tools will help ease the department’s minds when it comes to responding to accidents.

They recently faced a situation in which the harsh possibility of not being able to reach wreck victim trapped inside their vehicle almost became a tragic reality, according to Capt. Will Dailey with the Valley Grande Volunteer Fire Department.

He mentioned a wreck on Highway 80 that occurred weeks ago where the spreader and cutter could have easily been needed.

Thank God the individual involved in the accident was able to climb out, since the car withstood the wreck.

“They weren’t trapped. But if they had trapped, we would have been in trouble. There would have been no way to get them out,” Dailey said.

It also makes me appreciate the fact they aren’t waiting for the worse to happen, but instead preparing for it.

A combination of council’s generosity and the volunteer fire department’s desire to address its biggest concerns is surely going to make Valley Grande an even better community.