North American Vehicle Rescue Association

One of the primary goals of the North American Vehicle Rescue Association (NAVRA) is to promote better vehicle rescue operations through improved operational teaching standards. All of the courses that NAVRA conducts, meets or exceeds the national standards that NFPA 1670 sets. NAVRA, however, takes NFPA 1670 one important step further and teaches the rescuer the theory of how, when, where and why to apply the various operational options.

NAVRA's instructors accomplish this goal be teaching rescuers how to mitigate vehicle rescue incidents using the Vehicle Rescue Management (VRM) system. VRM is a systematic operational theory that breaks the motor vehicle crash (MVC) into three inter-connected and equally important components: Command/Safety, Technical and Medical. By breaking the incident down into the three task-oriented components and using uniform terminology the rescue team's overall proficiency and safety will improve. Improving how motor vehicle crashes (MVC) are handled will improve Homeland Security by increasing the rescuers hazard awareness, communication and inter-agency cooperation.

Target Market and Customers

NAVRA’s target market and customers will be First Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Firefighters, Law enforcement officers, Tow operators and all others who respond to motor vehicle crashes (MVC). These typical clients will directly benefit from NAVRA’s training programs, but many others will indirectly benefit. Companies and organizations that provide rescue tools, equipment, protective clothing, and auto manufactures will benefit by virtue of having their products showcased at NAVRA training sessions. Employers and insurance companies that provide workers compensation will also benefit from NAVRA because of the increased hazard and safety awareness, thus reducing rescuer injuries, time away from work, employer liability and fewer W/C insurance claims.

Strategic Plan

The North American Vehicle Rescue Association (NAVRA) strategic plan embodies the following key elements:

Forging a partnership between all the key groups in society with a strong vested interest in improving vehicle rescue safety - the business community, civil society, government, and donor agencies. This coalition becomes the focal point for interest in vehicle rescue management.
Undertaking - with finance provided by the organization members, public and private corporate partnerships - interventions and demonstration projects which show that vehicle rescue management can be improved in cost-effective ways.
Building sustainable local partnership organizations to work with NAVRA in delivering elements of a national or local vehicle rescue management plan.
Sharing knowledge about good practice and lessons learned from ongoing projects to demonstrate that partnerships can be effective in vehicle rescue management.
Reduce preventable injuries to rescuers and secondary injuries to patients.
Improve communications between all rescue agencies and hazard awareness of rescuers while operating at motor vehicle crash incidents.

Organizational Chart

Partner Organization

WRO Certificate