Firefighters simulate car accident for demonstration in Market Square
Firefighters laid the reality of road accidents bare by demonstrating how they would cut a casualty from the wreckage of a car in Northampton town centre.
An old Vauxhall Astra was dismantled and cut apart in Market Square on Friday while a man sat inside waiting to be 'rescued', to raise awareness of how horrific car crashes can be.
Steve Parr, watch manager at Mereway fire station, told the Chron that the event was a way of communicating to people the message of prevention by not using mobile phones while at the wheel, speeding or drink-driving.
He said: "People don't realise, and they think it will never be them. Unfortunately the roads are still a very dangerous place.
"When we go out to fatalities, we see all this stuff and we are desperate for people to see and make the right decisions. We need to get the message across to everyone.
"It takes less than a heart beat to crash a car."
Paramedics and police officers were also at the lunchtime demonstration to answer any questions and give advice.
Anya Lemanski, a paramedic for the East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "This type of demonstration is really important to get people to understand that drinking alcohol and driving, or driving fast put them and others at serious risk.
"The demonstration is very graphic and shows how long it can take to get someone out of a vehicle, and also how frightening and uncomfortable it can be for those involved in an accident."
Community fire safety officer Staci Leach said: "We have a lot of high risk groups that we struggle to get in to, those people who aren't going to come along to fetes or look at a leaflet so we come to them and do things like this."
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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