Seminole Toyota, Allstate and GEICO Hosted First Responders for Emergency Extrication Education Event Presented by Genesis Rescue Systems on How to Extricate People from Today’s Advanced Vehicles
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (September 5, 2025) – More than a dozen first responders from the Orlando-area 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 the Orlando area, all thanks to Seminole Toyota, GEICO, Allstate, the Sanford Fire Department, and the National Auto Body Council® F.R.E.E.™ program.
Participating fire departments included Seminole County, Maitland and Winter Park.
Members of the first responders from these units gathered at a special NABC F.R.E.E.™ education and guidance program on September 4 to help ensure drivers in the Orlando 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.
“Any time we get to come out in a non-stressful environment and train on auto extrication is a benefit to the guys totally,” said Jeff Spinelli, Division Chief of Safety Training for the Winter Park Fire Department. “The ability to use the tools on their apparatus in a non-stressful emergency scene is so important. They’re allowed to practice, learn techniques, learn vehicle construction. It makes it easier for them to deconstruct the vehicles and ultimately get the patients out.”
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.
“It’s our goal to help Orlando drivers be safer on the road and training programs like the NABC First Responders Emergency Extrication program help us to prepare first responders to rescue accident victims from late-model vehicles,” said Anthony Villanueva, Manager at the Seminole Toyota Collision Center. “Minutes matter in a rescue and this kind of training helps save lives.”
Seminole Toyota is an I-CAR Gold Certified repair facility and is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway Automotive network, a long time NABC partner. Allstate and GEICO are Level One partners in NABC®, provided the vehicles for the exercise. Genesis Rescue Systems, a Level Two member of the NABC®, supplied the classroom education and extrication demonstration. Ben’s Paint Supply, PPG, and Enterprise provided food for the event.
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.