| With all of the talk of hybrid vehicles many people are | | | | This problem is being addressed by manufacturers of |
| singing their praises about these lightweight, | | | | hybrids with Honda and Toyota going to the front of |
| fuel-efficient cars. But are there hazards to driving a | | | | the line on safety procedures. Hybrid cars are being |
| hybrid? Is there really anything to worry about? Let's | | | | suited with color codes so first responders can easily |
| take a closer look at potential hybrid hazards. | | | | comprehend the flow of electricity in the car. Honda |
| One of the biggest concerns often talked about when | | | | hybrids use the color bright orange to designate the |
| it comes to hybrid vehicles has to do with those | | | | high-voltage power line which helps reduce safety |
| personnel responding to accidents involving a hybrid. | | | | risks for rescuers responding to calls. |
| Many traditional looking cars such as the Honda | | | | Concerns about hybrid hazards have led Honda and |
| Accord and Ford Escape are being built with hybrid | | | | Toyota to create their own individual safety guides for |
| engines and rescuers might experience some difficulty | | | | rescue personnel. Every fire department in the United |
| at the scene of an accident identifying one as such. | | | | States received a copy of these guides to be made |
| The reason the identification is crucial is that as | | | | available for their staff to educate themselves. Toyota |
| compared to conventional gas powered cars, hybrid | | | | has just completed new guides for its latest hybrid |
| vehicles have a tremendous amount of electricity | | | | vehicles, the Highlander and Lexus. These guides can |
| coursing through them and thus could cause injury to | | | | easily be read online by any member of the public, |
| rescuers and further injury to drivers already hurt by | | | | whether they are emergency workers or not. |
| the crash. Many people believe that the solution to this | | | | In South Florida, with its many canals, many people |
| problem is for automakers to affix a label on the | | | | have expressed concerns about the hybrid hazards |
| driver's side visor stating that it is a hybrid vehicle, equip | | | | involved in water submersion, as these kinds of |
| with all the features that this kind of car entails. | | | | accidents are common in this area of the state. |
| New hybrids are bursting onto the market at an | | | | Manufacturers of hybrid vehicles say that the only |
| increasing rate and therefore all first responders need | | | | thing emergency personnel need to keep in mind in |
| to be taught about ways in which hybrid cars differ | | | | regard to safety issues is to remember to make sure |
| from more traditional non-hybrid models. Lack of | | | | the car's ignition is turned off once it is out of the |
| education could result in safety measures being | | | | water. |
| compromised and injuries taking place. To use the | | | | Speaking of the car being turned off, that is another |
| battery in a hybrid to illustrate the point, in some hybrid | | | | issue for hot debate when it comes to talk of hybrid |
| models the battery carries with it a charge of up to | | | | hazards. Hybrid cars are made differently than |
| 500 volts and is powered both by gasoline and | | | | traditional gas powered vehicles in that it is not always |
| electricity. Compare this with the voltage of a typical | | | | easy to tell if they are off or still running. Most traditional |
| non-hybrid car, which is in the area of 12 volts. First | | | | cars one need only feel the hood of the car to make |
| responders need to be taught where the battery is | | | | a correct determination but hybrids can be tricky- a |
| located in a hybrid car and how to cut the cables | | | | hybrid can appear to be turned off when in actual fact |
| without risking being electrocuted by the high voltage | | | | it is in silent electric mode and very able to plow over |
| that the battery puts out. This is particularly important | | | | an unsuspecting person if any movement or pressure |
| when machinery such as the Jaws of Life is required | | | | is applied to the accelerator. One possible solution to |
| to physically remove a passenger in imminent danger | | | | this serious hazard put forth by the fire department in |
| from a car. It cannot be emphasized enough, without | | | | Texas is to place chocks under the wheels if it is not |
| proper training, more serious injury, and even death, | | | | known whether the car's ignition is still on or not. |
| could result. | | | | |