The National Auto Body Council (NABC) held a First Responder Emergency Extraction (F.R.E.E.) event at Pro Collision Center in Orange, Va., where first responders from the Orange Fire Department and departments in surrounding areas learned how to rescue accident victims from late-model vehicles.
The event was held as part of the Pro Collison Center Fundraiser Cruise-In, a family-friendly event supporting the local community and military members. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) donated the vehicles, and HURST Jaws of Life provided the tools and education.
The NABC F.R.E.E. program provides advanced education and guidance to help first responders practice cutting techniques on advanced vehicles, addressing high-strength steel and composite materials, multiple airbags, onboard technology and changing vehicle design.
The growing popularity of high-voltage hybrid and electric vehicles and the many safety concerns surrounding these vehicles makes this program a necessity. Alternative fuel systems present different challenges when first responders arrive at the scene of an accident. Electric cars, hybrid cars and natural gas vehicles have fuel systems that pose dangers for first responders if need arises to “cut” the vehicle for rescue.