Are+Hybrid+Cars+Hazardous%3f+With+all+of+the+talk+of+hybrid+vehicles+many+people+are+singing+their+praises+about+these+lightweight%2c+fuel-efficient+cars.+But+are+there+hazards+to+driving+a+hybrid%3f+Is+there+really+anything+to+worry+about%3f+Let%e2%80%99s+take+a+closer+look+at+potential+hybrid+hazards.+One+of+the+biggest+concerns+often+talked+about+when+it+comes+to+hybrid+vehicles+has+to+do+with+those+personnel+responding+to+accidents+involving+a+hybrid.+Many+traditional+looking+cars+such+as+the+Honda+Accord+and+Ford+Escape+are+being+built+with+hybrid+engines+and+rescuers+might+experience+some+difficulty+at+the+scene+of+an+accident+identifying+one+as+such.+The+reason+the+identification+is+crucial+is+that+as+compared+to+conventional+gas+powered+cars%2c+hybrid+vehicles+have+a+tremendous+amount+of+electricity+coursing+through+them+and+thus+could+cause+injury+to+rescuers+and+further+injury+to+drivers+already+hurt+by+the+crash.+Many+people+believe+that+the+solution+to+this+problem+is+for+automakers+to+affix+a+label+on+the+driver%e2%80%99s+side+visor+stating+that+it+is+a+hybrid+vehicle%2c+equip+with+all+the+features+that+this+kind+of+car+entails.+New+hybrids+are+bursting+onto+the+market+at+an+increasing+rate+and+therefore+all+first+responders+need+to+be+taught+about+ways+in+which+hybrid+cars+differ+from+more+traditional+non-hybrid+models.+Lack+of+education+could+result+in+safety+measures+being+compromised+and+injuries+taking+place.+To+use+the+battery+in+a+hybrid+to+illustrate+the+point%2c+in+some+hybrid+models+the+battery+carries+with+it+a+charge+of+up+to+500+volts+and+is+powered+both+by+gasoline+and+electricity.+Compare+this+with+the+voltage+of+a+typical+nonhybrid+car%2c+which+is+in+the+area+of+12+volts.+First+responders+need+to+be+taught+where+the+battery+is+located+in+a+hybrid+car+and+how+to+cut+the+cables+without+risking+being+electrocuted+by+the+high+voltage+that+the+battery+puts+out.+This+is+particularly+important+when+machinery+such+as+the+Jaws+of+Life+is+required+to+physically+remove+a+passenger+in+imminent+danger+from+a+car.+It+cannot+be+emphasized+enough%2c+without+proper+training%2c+more+serious+injury%2c+and+even+death%2c+could+result.+This+problem+is+being+addressed+by+manufacturers+of+hybrids+with+Honda+and+Toyota+going+to+the+front+of+the+line+on+safety+procedures.+Hybrid+cars+are+being+suited+with+color+codes+so+first+responders+can+easily+comprehend+the+flow+of+electricity+in+the+car.+Honda+hybrids+use+the+color+bright+orange+to+designate+the+high-voltage+power+line+which+helps+reduce+safety+risks+for+rescuers+responding+to+calls.+Concerns+about+hybrid+hazards+have+led+Honda+and+Toyota+to+create+their+own+individual+safety+guides+for+rescue+personnel.+Every+fire+department+in+the+United+States+received+a+copy+of+these+guides+to+be+made+available+for+their+staff+to+educate+themselves.+Toyota+has+just+completed+new+guides+for+its+latest+hybrid+vehicles%2c+the+Highlander+and+Lexus.+These+guides+can+easily+be+read+online+by+any+member+of+the+public%2c+whether+they+are+emergency+workers+or+not.+In+South+Florida%2c+with+its+many+canals%2c+many+people+have+expressed+concerns+about+the+hybrid+hazards+involved+in+water+submersion%2c+as+these+kinds+of+accidents+are+common+in+this+area+of+the+state.+Manufacturers+of+hybrid+vehicles+say+that+the+only+thing+emergency%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cpersonnel+need+to+keep+in+mind+in+regard+to+safety+issues+is+to+remember+to+make+sure+the+car%e2%80%99s+ignition+is+turned+off+once+it+is+out+of+the+water.+Speaking+of+the+car+being+turned+off%2c+that+is+another+issue+for+hot+debate+when+it+comes+to+talk+of+hybrid+hazards.+Hybrid+cars+are+made+differently+than+traditional+gas+powered+vehicles+in+that+it+is+not+always+easy+to+tell+if+they+are+off+or+still+running.+Most+traditional+cars+one+need+only+feel+the+hood+of+the+car+to+make+a+correct+determination+but+hybrids+can+be+tricky-+a+hybrid+can+appear+to+be+turned+off+when+in+actual+fact+it+is+in+silent+electric+mode+and+very+able+to+plow+over+an+unsuspecting+person+if+any+movement+or+pressure+is+applied+to+the+accelerator.+One+possible+solution+to+this+serious+hazard+put+forth+by+the+fire+department+in+Texas+is+to+place+chocks+under+the+wheels+if+it+is+not+known+whether+the+car%e2%80%99s+ignition+is+still+on+or+not.+Gregg+Hall+is+a+business+consultant+and+author+for+many+online+and+offline+businesses+and+lives+in+Navarre+Florida+with+his+16+year+old+son.+Get+car+care+products+for+your+car+from+http%3a%2f%2fwww.shineyourcar.com%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c