Andover Auto Body and Allstate Hosted First Responders for Emergency Education Event to Demonstrate How to Extricate People from Today’s Advanced Vehicles
Andover, KS (June 9, 2025) – More than 30 first responders from the Andover Fire Department and surrounding areas put on their rescue gear for a hands-on demonstration of the latest techniques in emergency vehicle extrication, preparing them to provide the best response for car accident victims in Andover, all thanks to Andover Auto Body, the Andover Fire Department, Allstate, Genesis Rescue Systems and the National Auto Body Council® F.R.E.E.™ program.
The Andover Fire Department and first responders from surrounding areas gathered at a special NABC F.R.E.E.™ education and guidance program on June 7 to help ensure drivers in their area get the best prepared response in case of an accident.
Today’s vehicles are equipped with numerous airbags, advanced technology and innovative safety systems that keep drivers safer in case of an accident. But these same safety advantages make it harder for first responders to rescue those drivers and passengers. Add to that the potential challenge presented by electric and hybrid engines, and first responders need a whole new arsenal of rescue tools and procedures.
“It’s training sessions like this that allow us to learn what the car manufacturers are doing and how we can get around it,” explained Chris Matson, training captain for the Andover Fire Department.
The National Auto Body Council® First Responder Emergency Education (F.R.E.E.™) program helps prepare local first responder teams to rescue accident victims from these late-model vehicles. The program provides education and live demonstrations on working with high-strength steel, airbags, advanced restraint systems, onboard technology and safety around alternative fuel vehicles. Since it was founded, it has provided education for more than 6,000 first responders.
Brandy Calef, who handles customer relations for Andover Auto Body, watched in amazement as the firefighters took cars apart. “Right now, they are cutting the roof off a car. They can disassemble a car in seconds.”
Andover Auto Body is an I-CAR Gold Certified repair facility. Allstate, a Level One partner in NABC, provided the vehicles for the exercise. Genesis Rescue Systems supplied the classroom education and extrication demonstration.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL®
The National Auto Body Council® is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council® has gifted more than 3,500 vehicles valued at $51 million and provided extrication opportunities for some 6,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides®, NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the NABC® Community Impact program.
The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is committed to the goal of driving change for veterans, military members, first responders and families in need, while harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities where we live and work. As demand for NABC® programs like NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC F.R.E.E.™ grows, so do the needs for resources to manage these important programs. Being able to pursue grants, gifts and donations allow NABC® to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.
Media Contact:
George Avery
g.avery@nationalautobodycouncil.org
(309) 317-9369