Two collision repair shops gathered industry supporters to deliver emergency vehicle extrication training to more than 200 emergency service personnel in Las Vegas and Gary, Ind., in June.
911 Collision Centers, Kent Automotive and Hertz Local Edition hosted the Las Vegas training event June 1 with Progressive Insurance, Nationwide Insurance and Green Leaf Recyclers providing vehicles.
Cars Collision Group and Kent Automotive hosted the Indiana training June 23 with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, State Farm Insurance and Farmers Insurance donating the damaged vehicles.
With advancements in vehicle design, multiple airbags and complex passenger restraint systems, first responders to an accident need additional training. They are seeing more hybrid vehicles in accidents and need to be familiar with these restraint systems and with high-voltage vehicles.
“Learning about the wiring and voltage on hybrids provided invaluable experience to our team,” says Jeff Lytle, a battalion chief with the Henderson, Nev., safety forces.
Chuck Sulkala, executive director of the National Auto Body Council attended the two-day program in Las Vegas that trained more than 125 emergency service personnel. "This program was fantastic, from Toby Chess talking about the new metals, to observing the various airbags being deployed, to seeing the first responders suit up. It was really great to see them in action. It was an awesome display that was appreciated by everyone."
Veteran I-CAR instructor Toby Chess, who also is national director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists, also conducted the training in Indiana, showing emergency response personnel how to safely cut through high-strength steel used in many of today’s vehicles.
“We rarely, if ever, get the opportunity to practice cutting apart late-model vehicles,” Lytle says. “Our team members, especially the younger ones, need as much practice as possible. This training will definitely save time and save lives.”
Safety officials in Indiana expressed similar sentiments.
"So much has changed in the car industry, we have to keep abreast of what's new," Maurice Kelly, a 14-year veteran of the Gary Fire Department, said to the post-trib.com. "We have 25 of our men here today to do just that.”
Attendees also received a DVD on vehicle extrication to take back to their departments.
Organizers of the two events said they thought their efforts were well received.
“This training will help save lives right here in our own neighborhoods,” says Patrick O’Neill, 911 Collision Centers co-founder and operations manager. “We are committed to hosting these classes in the communities we serve and challenge other repairers to get involved and host a class in their community.”
Rob Robbins of Cars Collision Group said the time spent putting the class together was worthwhile. “If we save one life as a result of this training, it's worth it. And, with this year's success, we are considering this (program) as an annual event,” he said to the post-trib.com.
For more information on the Indiana training program, click here.
