Opel at the Weber Rescue Days 2016: The Right Construction Helps Save Lives

Opel at the Weber Rescue Days 2016: The Right Construction Helps Save Lives

• Hands-on experience: 25 as-new Opel vehicles on site for rescue drills
• Know how and where: Opel rescue cards offer valuable help

Rüsselsheim/Bad Kreuznach.  The roughly 700 professionals from fire and emergency services visiting the international “Weber Rescue Days 2016” in Bad Kreuznach were able to get some hands-on experience on how to quickly gain access to a vehicle and thus save lives. The visitors of the biggest training event for technical assistance in the world came from across Europe. Opel also provided knowledgeable assistance and around 25 as-new vehicles ranging from Astra and Insignia to the Vivaro. The participants had the opportunity to practice on these cars.

“Seconds can make the difference between life and death. The emergency services need to be able to free the occupants of the vehicle as quickly as possible,” said Jürgen Peitz, head of rescue matters at Opel. “Therefore smooth and successful rescue operations depend on close cooperation between carmakers, rescue equipment manufacturers, fire services, and paramedics. We demonstrate how it works optimally with our cars and our workshops.”

The participants had the opportunity to train for an emergency during the three-day event – using heavy rescue equipment on real vehicles. Normally, they use cars that have already been damaged or involved in an accident for training. Opel transported 25 current, as-new models to Bad Kreuznach and thus invested in safety by creating a realistic situation. Visitors could get up close to the fire services and could even to attempt to cut into a vehicles themselves.

Comprehensive concept: Emergency braking, Opel OnStar and rescue cards

Additional Opel rescue cards facilitated making the right “cut”. They can be downloaded from www.opel-rescuecard.com in 25 languages for Opel models ranging from the ADAM to the Zafira. They include all necessary information such as where the fuel lines and the body reinforcements are located and thus show how the vehicles can be accessed after an accident.

But Opel is not only showing how successful rescues should be conducted at special events such as the “Weber Rescue Days”. The works fire service in Rüsselsheim offers regular free training seminars focusing on “Technical accident assistance on new Opel models” – 80 so far in 2016 alone. Furthermore, prototype tests with hydraulic rescue devices are carried out on new vehicles in cooperation with the manufacturers of these devices. The works fire service welcomes up to 1,000 guests, who attend seminars, implement tests and even produce educational films every year.

Avoiding accidents and thus rendering rescue services unnecessary is obviously the main objective of the carmarker. Opel models such as the Astra, MOKKA X, Zafira and co come with numerous active safety and driver assistance systems such as Following Distance Indication, Forward Collision Alert or Automated Emergency Braking. In addition, Opel OnStar is on board as a personal guardian angel. The advisors can locate the vehicle and send professional help as quickly as possible in case of emergency.