New and improved air bags, superstrong metals, higher-voltages and batteries located in different places in vehicles are among changes that make cars safer, but at the same time complicate the task of removing passengers when crashes occur. Teams of firefighters from the Amsterdam Fire Department spent hours during the past two weeks training both in a classroom and in a vehicle graveyard to tune up their skills, which can help save not only the lives of victims, but also their own.
Posted on April 4, 2008.
City of Amsterdam firefighter Tim Czeski, left, watches as an air bag deploys on a vehicle he and his crew were training on at Altieri's Auto in Amsterdam Thursday. The bag, which was disconnected, was set off on purpose to show the speed the bag inflates.
State Fire Protection Specialist Jim Santee, left, is reflected in the window of a Ford Explorer with the message inscribed "Be Gentle", as it is next in line to be taken apart at Altieri's Auto in Amsterdam by firefighters of the City of Amsterdam Fire Department, Thursday.
State fire protection specialist Jim Santee, left, and Lt. Andy Castler, watch as firefighter Mark Perfetti use a hydraulic rescue tool during a training exersise at Altieri's Auto, Inc. in Amsterdam Thursday.
Amsterdam firefighter Mark Perfetti uses hydraulic cutters to rip through the center post of a car at Altieri's Auto in Amsterdam as part of auto extrication training on Thursday.
City of Amsterdam firefighter Lt. Andy Castler, pulls on a rope to peal the roof of a car back, during automobile extraction training at Altieri's Auto, Inc. in Amsterdam Thursday.
State Fire Protection specialist Jim Santee, left, and Amsterdam battalion chief Richard DePasquale, watch as firefighters Lt. Andy Castler and Tim Czeski, use a piece of 4 x 4 lumber to force open the door of a car at Altieri's Auto in Amsterdam, as part of auto extrication training Thursday.
City of Amsterdam firefighters Rob Shang, left, and Jeff Hazzard, use hydraulic rescue tools to take apart a car at Altieri's Auto in Amsterdam, as part of an automobile extrictation exercise Thursday.
City of Amsterdam firefighter Jeff Hazzard, uses a hydraulic rescue tool to cut the post of a car at Altieri's Auto, Inc. in Amsterdam, during auto extrication training Thursday.
City of Amsterdam firefighters clockwise from left, Rob Shang, Lt. Andy Castler, Tim Czeski, and Battalion chief Richard DePasquale, watch as firefighter Jeff Hazzard removes the center post of a car unde the supervision of State Fire Protection Specialist Jim Santee at Altieri's Auto, Inc. in Amsterdam Thursday.