30 April 2010

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is appealing to the public for scrap cars that it can use for training purposes.

Last year, firefighters released about 300 people who had become trapped in their vehicles following road traffic collisions.

They carried out a further 200 demonstrations of the technique – called an extrication – in training sessions at fire stations and road safety awareness displays at fetes and open days.

Community safety manager Chris Bailey said: “We rely on donations of old cars from individuals and businesses so that we can use them in training. The supply has slowed down considerably over the past year.

"Our firefighters need to be able to cut casualties clear of vehicles for medical treatment very quickly, and without cars to use in training they have nothing to practise on.”

Suitable vehicles can be collected from most parts of Buckinghamshire. If you can help, email details to response@bucksfire.gov.uk    

Vehicles must be handed over with their registration documents so that they can be officially scrapped when Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has finished with them.