Hybrid vehicles are becoming more and more commonplace on American roads as gasoline prices are constantly on the rise. Automotive safety specialists have begun cautioning about the potential for serious injury to emergency responders from electrical shock at traffic accidents and vehicle fires involving hybrid vehicles. The hybrid vehicles are powered through a combination of gasoline engines and high voltage batteries. The presence of high voltage components creates a possible electrocution hazard (between 300 and 500 volts of electricity) to emergency personnel, especially before they realize the vehicle is a hybrid model. This phenomenon warrants the attention of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel nationwide. Some suggestions for dealing with hybrid vehicles are as follows:

- Always assume the vehicle is powered-up despite no engine noises.
- Put vehicle in park, turn ignition off, and remove key to disable the high voltage system.
- Never touch, cut, or open any orange cable or components protected by orange shields.
- Remain a safe distance from vehicle if it is on fire.
- Consider the electrical system unsafe for a full 5 minutes after ignition shut-down.
- Contact local auto dealerships for more information about their hybrid vehicles.

Rember:

- Hybrids are powered by a combination of gasoline engines and high-voltage batteries, so the most important first step at an incident scene must be to verify that the vehicle is absolutely not under any power. Always assume the vehicle is powered up despite no engine noises.
- High voltage battery pack storing electricity is located at the rear of the vehicle.
- High voltage cables are orange in color.
- High voltage components are identified and protected by orange plastic shields.
- Some manufactures suggest that first responders shut down a hybrid vehicle by putting it in park, turning the motor off, and removing the ignition key. (Some models may not have an ignition key.) When possible have the operator or a trained individual do this if there are any questions or concerns.

Because the cars are able to run without the gasoline motor, they can be in the "ready" position (running off electricity stored in the battery packs) with very little sound or vibration. Chock the wheels as soon as possible in case a car in the "sleep mode" has its gas pedal depressed inadvertently by a driver.

Put vehicle in park, turn ignition off, depress power button, and remove key to disable the high-voltage system. Consider the electrical system unsafe for a full 5 minutes (called "drain time") after ignition shut-down.

Depending on the type of collision, exterior hybrid labeling could be unrecognizably damaged or blocked by another vehicle. A reliable clue that a vehicle is a hybrid is its large battery pack, some of which weigh 80 or more pounds. Never touch, cut, or open any orange cable or components protected by orange sleeves.

More hybrid vehicles are being mainstreamed to resemble traditional vehicles, making some models difficult to recognize. Ford Escape and Toyota Highlander hybrids, for example, have identical gas-powered counterparts, so checking for the "hybrid" label and looking for the orange cable sleeves under the hood, in the rear, or underneath the cars are important initial steps at vehicle incidents.

Auto Design and Extrication Forum, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, is a streaming webcast that covers response to incidents involving hybrid vehicles as well as safety pointers on such recent design features as roof airbags on 2005 and later model vehicles, and extensive coverage of airbags and restraint systems. It can be viewed at http://www.statefarm.com/sftv/sftv.htm.

Responder guidance for most domestic and foreign hybrids is available to download at http://www.extrication.com/ERG.htm, and each manufacturer of hybrids has responder-specific guidelines at its website.