IIHS, Allstate, Farmers®, GEICO, Liberty Mutual and Hurst Jaws of Life® Hosted First Responder Education Event in Ruckersville, VA, Demonstrating How to Extricate People from Today’s Advanced Vehicles on September 17
MEDIA NOTE: Photos and Video from the NABC F.R.E.E.™ presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (September 17, 2026) – Nearly 140 first responders representing 30 rescue units from across the southeast donned their gear at the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in Ruckersville, VA, on Thursday, September 17 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 IIHS, vehicle donors Allstate, Farmers®, GEICO and Liberty Mutual 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.
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.
“We have over 100 different firefighters, EMTs, and students and interns all learning what it takes with today’s modern vehicles and how the metals and composites have changed over the years to safely extricate individuals and make an impact,” said Ben Clymer, Jr., who serves on the NABC Board of Directors. “We do these nationwide and to date we’ve helped approximately 7,000 first responders learn these new techniques and how to use them.”
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.
“This opportunity is excellent for us to get hands on with newer vehicles and newer technologies that we don’t see every day and it also gives us the opportunity to take that knowledge back to other workers to be able to share what we’ve learned,” said Captain Frank Crocker with the Charlottesville (VA) Fire Department.
Allstate, Panera, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Makita, Mission BBQ and AutoZone were additional partners in the program.
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.