The Professional Association of Rescue Services in Road Traffic Accidents (APRAT) was created by the fire department to compile and channel all the latest developments, up until now widely dispersed, related to extrication techniques for freeing victims involved in road traffic accidents. It likewise responds to the need to perfect these techniques as a result of the constant improvements in the design of vehicle safety features.

APRAT’s three basic lines of action are:

• To provide a national platform for all professionals involved in road traffic accidents, both within the sector that carries out rescue services and within the different sectors that work on vehicle safety.
  
• To develop techniques in the rescue and assistance to these road traffic accident victims and to inform about new technologies related to aspects of road safety.
  
• To promote and encourage, by organising different events (open days, championships), dialogue and meetings between the sectors involved.