CLEVELAND, (March 2, 2006) — During a seminar today at the 2006 Cleveland Auto Show, more than 300 first responders from local fire departments and emergency medical technicians (EMT) from northern Ohio communities will learn standard operating procedures for hybrid vehicles involved in an accident.
As sales of hybrid vehicles continue to grow, a number of issues have been raised about how EMT units and first responders—as well as hybrid owners—should approach an accident involving a hybrid in order to avoid potentially harmful electric shocks from the onboard high-voltage batteries.
To provide some answers to those questions, the auto show, which is being held at Cleveland's I-X Center, is hosting “Hybrid Vehicles, First Respondents Seminar II.” It is sponsored by the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association.
Kenneth Buie, the primary presenter, is program coordinator, Stark State College Automotive Technology. Also presenting is Fred Bertram, department chair, Stark State College Fire Science and captain in the Canton, Ohio, Fire Department.