Noting that modern, highly technological vehicles may pose risksto rescue workers trying to extricate crash victims, State Farm isconducting a national education effort to inform fire departmentsand emergency medical service personnel about the potentialhazards.

“With automakers producing more technically advanced vehicles,rescue workers will see more of these cars involved in accidents.Rescue personnel will need to know how to avoid potentiallydangerous situations,” said Ron Moore of the McKinney, Texas, FireDepartment, who has joined the project as an instructor. “Rescueworkers need to keep up with the amazing innovations in cars today,so that we don't endanger our own lives or delay a rescue when timeis of the essence.”

State Farm's Education and Research Facility has developed afree, interactive broadcast that provides information on recentadvancements in automotive technology. Among the topics exploredare advanced technology in gas/electric hybrid vehicles, air bagsystems, and new construction materials. The program also includespreventing injuries from accidental deployment of air bags duringrescues, which can injure rescuers and victims inside vehicles;avoiding risks in convertibles from retractable roll bars'activating during rescues; and efficiently cutting through newlightweight, ultra-hard metal alloys, such as Boron steel.