LINCOLN, Ala. – More than 40 emergency rescue workers from five states put the “Jaws of Life” and other rescue tools and techniques to work at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) to learn hands-on, real-world training in crash victim extrication.

Working in conjunction with the City of Talladega Fire Department, the City of Lincoln Fire Department and Scene Of The Accident, Inc., the event included participants from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana and Illinois.

During the two-day training course, emergency professionals and first responders practiced rescue techniques using 20 Honda Pilot sport utility vehicles and Odyssey minivans.

“Proper training is a critical factor in successful rescue in the event of an automobile accident,” said Todd Hoffman, who conducted the training class for SOTA, Inc. “This opportunity for hands-on training will be greatly beneficial to our first responders when they are faced with real-world accidents.”

The extrication field course conducted on-site at Honda provided fire and rescue professionals the chance to use tools such as the “Jaws of Life” and other rescue techniques on 20 vehicles donated by HMA. The training is meant to prepare the attendees for true accident conditions and be as real-to-life as possible.

“These vehicles are pre-production and test vehicles destined to be crushed when their service is completed,” said James Freer, HMA General Services Department Manager. “Although it was difficult to watch our products get destroyed, it’s comforting to know it is being done to ultimately extend another level of safety to our customers.”

Rescue workers were trained in the proper use of powerful, hydraulically-controlled devices, including a tool that is commonly called “the jaws of life.” The training included cutting off the doors and roofs of the vehicles and instruction in techniques of how to calm, comfort and properly remove accident victims without causing further injury.

Typically, old, wrecked or junkyard salvage vehicles are used in such training. Program participants said working with newer vehicles gave experience in dealing with high-strength steel and other metals used today.

The training is meant to prepare the attendees for true accident conditions and be as real-to-life as possible. “Responding to an accident that has just happened is not the time to learn how to remove a door from a vehicle,” Hoffman said.

Working in conjunction with the City of Talladega Fire Department, the City of Lincoln Fire Department and Scene Of The Accident, Inc., participants from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Illinois and the Greensburg, Indiana, Fire Department (home of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana) were included in the training program.