Vermont First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills through National Auto Body Council™ First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) Program

November 11, 2019October 3, 2019 by admin

Vermont First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills through National Auto Body Council™ First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) Program

South Ryegate, VT — In crashes where minutes can spell the difference between life and death, first responders to the accident scene need up-to-date information so they can act quickly and safely! Knowing specifically where and how to efficiently cut and extricate can make the difference in saving precious minutes and lives as well as the safety of the first responders.

Keeping first responders up to date on the latest new technology in vehicles is a challenge for every local fire department. The NABC™ First Responder Emergency Extrication program (F.R.E.E.™) helps first responders stay abreast of the rapid changes in vehicle design. High-strength steel, airbags, advanced restraint systems, onboard technology and safety around alternative fuel vehicles are all covered in the program. 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 need arises to cut or pry the vehicle for rescue.

Darlings Auto Repair Inc. 315 Creamer Rd. South Ryegate, VT, 05069 hosted first responders from the Groton Volunteer Fire Department at a special NABC™ F.R.E.E.™ education and guidance program on September 14 to help ensure Vermont drivers have the best prepared response in case of an accident. State Farm Insurance donated the vehicle and Genesis Rescue Systems provided the classroom information and extrication demonstration.

Local First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills through National Auto Body Council First Responder Emergency Extrication™ Program

November 11, 2019September 27, 2019 by admin

Local First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills through National Auto Body Council First Responder Emergency Extrication™ Program

NABC™ F.R.E.E.™ Program, Hurst Jaws of Life, Interstate Rescue, State Farm and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Hosted Event for Virginia and West Virginia First Responders on How to Extricate People from Today’s Advanced Vehicles

RUCKERSVILLE, VA (September 26, 2019) – More than 50 first responders from dozens of fire departments and rescue squads across Virginia and West Virginia gathered today for a hands-on demonstration of the latest techniques in emergency extrication, preparing them to provide the best response for car accident victims in the region, all thanks to the National Auto Body Council F.R.E.E.™ program and partners Hurst Jaws of Life, Interstate Rescue, State Farm and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

In crashes where minutes can spell the difference between life and death, first responders to the accident scene need up-to-date information so they can act quickly and safely! Knowing specifically where and how to efficiently cut, pry and extricate can make the difference in saving precious minutes and lives as well as the safety of the first responders.

Keeping first responders up to date on the latest new technology in vehicles is a challenge for every local fire department. The NABC™ First Responder Emergency Extrication program (F.R.E.E.™) helps first responders and rescue units stay abreast of the rapid changes in vehicle design. High-strength steel, airbags, advanced restraint systems, onboard technology and safety around alternative fuel vehicles are all covered in the program. 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 need arises to cut or pry the vehicle for rescue.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and NABC™ F.R.E.E.™ hosted first responders and rescue units from throughout Virginia and West Virginia at a special NABC F.R.E.E.™ instruction program on Thursday, September 26 to help ensure the region’s drivers have the best prepared response in case of an accident.

“We’re honored to be at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety today with these tremendous partners to provide this NABC™ F.R.E.E.™ education program,” said Bill Garoutte, president and CEO of the National Auto Body Council. “Knowing that these dedicated men and women who serve as first responders in this region are committed to this level of advanced training provides confidence that our friends and families on the roads here are in the most qualified hands.”

Hurst Jaws of Life and Interstate Rescue provided the tools and education, State Farm and M&M Auto Parts donated the vehicles. Additional partners included Insurance Auto Auctions, Colonial Auto Center, Mission BBQ and Panera Bread.

“State Farm is pleased to donate five newer model salvaged vehicles for the First Responder Emergency Extrication training,” said Kate Beadle, State Farm spokesperson. “First Responders help their neighbors recover from auto accidents. We want to make sure they remain safe during extrications.”

National Auto Body Council Hosts Veterans In Drive Fore Courage Program

October 22, 2019September 5, 2019 by admin

National Auto Body Council Hosts Veterans In Drive Fore Courage Program

Deserving Local Veterans Honored as Part of
NABC Garden State Pars for Cars Golf Fundraiser Presented by Enterprise
At Mountain View Golf Club in Ewing Township, NJ

PRINCETON, NJ (September 5, 2019) – Recently, deserving New Jersey area veterans had an opportunity to experience a day on the golf course with leaders from the collision repair industry, courtesy of the National Auto Body Council and the annual Drive Fore Courage program.

The program was held as part of the NABC Garden State Pars for Cars Golf Fundraiser at the Mountain View Golf Club in Ewing Township, NJ. More than 15 veterans participated in the event. All Star Auto Lights, Subaru, Enterprise and Caliber Collision sponsored the Drive Fore Courage program.

“It has become a tradition at our yearly NABC golf fundraiser to work with our sponsors to host several foursomes for area veterans,” said Keith Egan, NABC board member and NABC Executive Committee member. “They valiantly served our country, and this is a way for us to say ‘thank you’ for their contributions.”

NABC, its insurance partners and collision repair partners also presented four vehicles to deserving veterans through the NABC Recycled Rides® program. NABC Recycled Rides® is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides® program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council have donated 2,180 vehicles valued at more than $36 million.

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 2,100 vehicles, provided extrication opportunities for over 1,000 First Responders and contributed to thousands of distracted driving pledges in communities through NABC Recycled Rides®, First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the Distracted Driving Initiative. That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC membership dollars. The National Auto Body Council is changing the paradigm of how the collision industry works and is viewed. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.

Local First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills through National Auto Body Council First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) Program

November 11, 2019September 3, 2019 by admin

Local First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills through National Auto Body Council First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) Program

Pulaski, VA (September 3, 2019) – More than 50 first responders from 10 fire departments gathered on August 27 for a demonstration of the latest techniques in emergency vehicle extrication, preparing them to provide the best response for car accident victims in the region, all thanks to the National Auto Body Council F.R.E.E.™ program and Tuck’s Collision.

Keeping first responders up to date on the latest new technology in vehicles is a challenge for every local fire department. The NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication program (F.R.E.E.™) helps first responders stay abreast of the rapid changes in vehicle design. High-strength steel, airbags, advanced restraint systems, onboard technology and safety around alternative fuel vehicles are all covered in the program. 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 need arises to cut or pry the vehicle for rescue.

Tuck’s Collision, located at 1001 E. Main St. in Pulaski, VA, hosted first responders from 10 fire departments from the surrounding area at a special NABC F.R.E.E.™ education program on August 27 in Pulaski to help ensure Virginia drivers have the best prepared response in case of an accident.

“My goal was to show people a start-to-finish accident scene,” said Stacy Tuck of Tuck’s Collision. “You get behind the wheel and are distracted or are inebriated (alcohol or drugs) and this is what the end result could be like, whether for you or the person you hit.”

State Farm Insurance provided the late-model vehicles and Genesis Rescue Systems supplied the classroom education and extrication demonstration. In addition, the Virginia State Police provided a distracted driver awareness program.

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 2,180 vehicles, provided extrication opportunities for over 1,000 First Responders and contributed to thousands of distracted driving pledges in communities through NABC Recycled Rides®, First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the Distracted Driving Initiative. That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC membership dollars. The National Auto Body Council is changing the paradigm of how the collision industry works and is viewed. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.