On April 18, 2015, Kar Kare CARSTAR in Ellington, Conn., took the lead in sponsoring an onsite training class to lessen the amount of time it takes to extract an occupant from their vehicle in an accident. Called the First Responders Emergency Extrication (FREE) program, the morning included a classroom session followed by hands-on training where each attendee practiced using the tools and strategies for cutting a car at the scene of an accident.

“As auto body specialists, our technicians are very aware of newer vehicle designs and the newer materials used in making today’s cars,” said Ron Midford, Kar Kare general manager. “For first responders, this knowledge is even more important in helping them save lives and in not endangering their own lives at an accident, which is why we were excited to offer the FREE training.”

Added Ellington Fire Chief Gary Feldman, “First responders, such as firefighters, require the most current vehicle information to be effective and save lives at the scene of an accident. This was a tremendous program that will help us save lives.”

Firefighters who attended the training were from Ellington, Bolton, Vernon, Somers and Broad Brook.

“It is nice to work with the other towns in a mutual training like this,” said Ellington Deputy Chief of Training Karl Neubecker. “And receiving the support of local businesses who made this possible is good for all of us.”

Event sponsors including Kar Kare were Bolles Motors of Stafford Springs and Ellington, Bill’s Auto Parts of Tolland, Autozone in Vernon, The Hidden Still in Ellington, Progressive Insurance and Enterprise Rental Car. Trainers were from Shipman’s Fire Equipment Company in Waterford.

“At Kar Kare CARSTAR, we are committed to helping our community become a safer, better place to live,” said Midford. “The feedback we received was extremely positive. We would be glad to host another one of these events as a way to further serve our locality.”