Speed Street Collision Center, GEICO Insurance and HURST Jaws of Life Hosted First Responders for Emergency Extrication Education Event to Demonstrate How to Extricate People from Today’s Advanced Vehicles
Media note: Additional pictures from the event can be found HERE.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (April 5, 2024) – On April 3, 14 first responders from the Lowell Fire Department and surrounding areas donned 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 Lowell, all thanks to Speed Street, GEICO, Hurst Jaws of Life and the National Auto Body Council® F.R.E.E.™ program.
Speed Street Collision Center in Lowell hosted first responders from the Lowell Fire Department and surrounding areas at a special NABC F.R.E.E.™ education and guidance program on August 3 to help ensure Lowell drivers have the best prepared response in case of an accident.
“We’re incredibly happy to be able to give our local firefighters the opportunity to practice and learn about these stressful situations before they are faced with them on the job,” commented Augusto Perris, owner of Speed Street. “We love to give back to our community, so we’re very glad we had this opportunity to host an event for our local first responders.”
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.
One member of the Lowell Fire Department was elated to get the special training, adding, “It’s just not something we usually have access to, the newer cars with the harder steel. Thank you.”
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 5,500 first responders.
GEICO provided the vehicles, and HURST Jaws of Life 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 3,300 vehicles valued at $47 million and provided extrication opportunities for some 5,500 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
