Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue, GEICO, Crash Champions and HURST Jaws of Life/MES Hosted First Responder Education Event in Bethesda, MD, to Demonstrate How to Extricate People from Today’s Advanced Vehicles on August 20
MEDIA NOTE: Photos and Video from the NABC F.R.E.E.™ presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (August 22, 2026) – First responders from across the Washington, D.C. area donned their gear at Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue in Bethesda, MD, on Thursday, August 20 for a hands-on learning experience teaching them how to rescue accident victims from late-model vehicles – life-saving skills that are critical when minutes matter most, all thanks to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue, vehicle donor GEICO, Crash Champions, which provided lunch, and the National Auto Body Council® F.R.E.E.™ program. HURST Jaws of Life/MES provided the tools used by the instructors in the demonstrations.
Virginia and Maryland first responders from these units gathered at a special NABC F.R.E.E.™ education and guidance program recently to help ensure drivers in the region 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.
“With the changes in the way that car manufacturers are putting in high strength steel, boron, ultra-high strength steel, all that kind of stuff, it has become a major challenge for rescuers to reach someone who becomes trapped inside,” said Ronnie Carr, a rescue specialist with Municipal Emergency Services who led Thursday’s training. “We’ve got to up our game with the tools that we’re using to be able to cut through the high-strength steel.”
The NABC F.R.E.E.™ program (First Responder Emergency Extrication) is a National Auto Body Council® initiative providing free, hands-on training for first responders to practice extricating victims from modern vehicles. It focuses on navigating high-strength steel, advanced airbags, and electric vehicle technology, often using salvaged vehicles.
“There’s been a lot of changes in the industry,” said Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Chief Ned Sherburne. “The pressures [for cutting and spreading tools] have changed, which has allowed them to have smaller cylinders in them, which makes them lighter, in the last 10 or 15 years…battery technology has really become big too. Sometimes an older hydraulic tool is better, sometimes a newer battery tool is better. It’s just we need to pick the right tool for the right job.”
Those in the community can support this life-saving NABC F.R.E.E. training in two ways – donate to the program directly or donate their unwanted or non-running vehicle through the Changing and Saving Lives Keys for Change program. They will receive a tax donation for their contribution, and proceeds will help train additional first responders across the country – and in their community.
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 3,850 vehicles valued at nearly $69 million and provided extrication opportunities for some 7,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™).
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 allows NABC® to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work.
The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation Keys for Change program also helps drive funding for key programs. The easy, efficient donation process allows vehicle owners to turn their unwanted vehicles into life-changing support. All vehicle donations fund critical programs that provide support and assistance for families in need, military members, veterans and first responders. For more information, visit http://www.nationalautobodycouncil.org.