When every second counts and safety must be at the highest level, carrying out effective rescue work requires more than just experience – it requires access to the right knowledge and technology.
At the Dutch Artem Fire & Rescue Academy, which trains firefighters and rescue personnel across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the CRS solution from Bliksund has proven to be an indispensable tool in their vehicle extrication training.
"It is crucial for us to be able to use CRS in rescue situations involving vehicles. CRS provides us with all the necessary information about the vehicle’s structure and systems so that we can carry out a safe and efficient extrication of a victim from a vehicle",
says Frank Poels, firefighter and co-owner of Artem Fire & Rescue Academy, who runs the academy together with Stefhan Geenen.
CRS, which stands for Crash Recovery System, gives rescue personnel fast and digital access to the latest information about a vehicle involved in an accident. By simply entering the vehicle’s license plate number into the CRS system on a tablet, they immediately gain access to all relevant vehicle data. This gives rescuers the knowledge they need to determine the safest and most effective way to free a vehicle or extricate a trapped person.
CRS prepares rescuers for real-life situations
Since 2017, CRS has been a fixed part of Artem Fire & Rescue Academy’s training programmes.
“We use CRS in all types of rescue training where vehicles are involved, and we teach our participants how to use it. CRS gives them a very good understanding of the vehicle’s anatomy and where the different components and safety systems are located,” says Frank Poels.
When participants learn to use CRS as part of their working method, Frank believes it gives them a significant advantage when they later face real-life rescue situations:
“When the participants learn to understand a vehicle’s structure and safety systems, they are far better prepared to carry out a safe and efficient extrication in a real-life situation – which can ultimately save lives.
Most safety systems in modern vehicles are hidden and often only become visible after an accident. Some of them can also pose a risk to rescue personnel if you don’t know where they are located. That’s why knowledge of a vehicle’s anatomy is crucial for working safely and efficiently.
A doctor must know the anatomy of the human body – in the same way, a rescuer must know the anatomy of a car,” says Frank Poels.
A must in modern rescue operations
According to Frank Poels and Stefhan Geenen, CRS is not just a useful tool - it has become a necessity in modern rescue operations.
“There are so many differences between vehicles today. It’s impossible for a firefighter or rescue worker to know all the specific details of every car. And every day new vehicles with new technology enter the market. With CRS, we have direct access to all the information we need when performing vehicle rescues,” says Stefhan Geenen, firefighter and co-owner of Artem Fire & Rescue Academy.
And Stefhan Geenen has no doubt when asked whether he could imagine working without CRS.
“I couldn’t imagine a day without CRS. There is no other system like this on the market. The connection to the license plate database ensures that you always find the exact vehicle make and model. No other system can do that.”
Electric vehicles place new demands on rescue technology
One of the major changes in modern rescue work is the rapid increase in electric and hybrid vehicles. The advanced technology in these vehicles also places new demands on the knowledge and tools used by rescue personnel.
“We also train responders in how to handle electric vehicles. And here, CRS is truly a gamechanger. The information CRS provides on how to shut down an EV system and its high-voltage components is extremely valuable,” says Stefhan Geenen.
Artem Fire & Rescue Academy works closely with Total Safety Solutions on EV training, where CRS provides precise and up-to-date information about the structure of electric vehicles – knowledge that can otherwise be difficult to access and keep updated.
About Artem Fire & Rescue Academy Artem
Artem Fire & Rescue Academy is a Dutch training company that has specialised in technical rescue since 2017, primarily for fire and rescue services.
The academy operates globally and conducts training across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, offering both basic training and specialised courses – often with a strong focus on practical skills and hands-on simulations. Today, CRS is an integral part of the academy’s training programmes.
