IIHS and NABC® Hosted First Responder Education Event in Ruckersville, VA, Demonstrating How to Extricate People from Today’s Advanced Vehicles on May 20, 2026
Media Note: Photos and Videos from the presentation available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – May 20, 2026 – On Wednesday, May 20, more than 75 first responders representing more than a dozen rescue units from Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland donned their gear 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. These hands-on demonstrations of the latest techniques in emergency vehicle extrication prepare first responders to provide the best response for car accident victims in the Mid-Atlantic, all thanks to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, Allstate, GEICO, Farmers, Nationwide, and the National Auto Body Council® F.R.E.E.™ program. Hurst Jaws of Life® provided the tools used for the classroom education and extrication demonstration. NCS provided plastic sheeting and crash wrap and AutoZone/ALLDATA provided tarps and brooms.
Members of the first responders from these units gathered at a special NABC F.R.E.E.™ education and guidance program at the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety in Ruckersville, VA to help ensure drivers from around the region are getting the best prepared response in case of an accident.
“We had 24 donated vehicles provided to us, from various insurances companies, that first responders from up and down the east coast used to learn advanced extrication techniques for late model vehicles,” said Brian Gallamore, Program Manager, NABC F.R.E.E.™ program.
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.
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 the need arises to “cut” the vehicle for rescue.
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.
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 3,750 vehicles valued at more than $67 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.