Training for electric cars
CHICAGO -- It is so new it's not on the road yet. but soon, a 2011 Chevy Volt will be torn apart in the name of safety.
Ron Moore, a rescue instructor says, "On the Chevrolet Volt, we would immediately press the button inside to turn the ignition off." Should one of this new breed of advanced electric vehicles get in an accident, first responders will need to know how to approach it to make an effective rescue and keep themselves safe while doing it.
Ron Moore is an expert in getting people out alive. Moore, leading this training session with Chicago firefighters. teaches them to know how to be aware of things like airbag inflators.
"Where are the stored gas inflators? before you cut a roof pillar of roof rail you should be striping the trim to determine the location of the stored gas inflators." says Moore. For fuel economy and crash safety, many of these vehicles use light weight, high strength boron steel. traditional saws can't cut through it. so firefighters have to know where the cut points are.
Another major concern for these first responders are the electrical systems in these vehicles. Some have a 300 volt motor in them. All orange cables denote where the high voltage is running for the firefighters' protection."
Gay Kent, GM safety director says, "There are safety systems designed for that system to also shut down but, you know there's no substitute for education and training."
Bob Hoff, from the Chicago Fire Commission says, "Technology is ever changing and we have to stay right on top it. Our number one goal when we pull up on the scene of an accident is life safety; to get the victim out of the wreckage as soon as we can and get them to the hospital. But the other part of it is the safety of our firefighters and paramedics."
As vehicles change, the tools and techniques used to save lives will have to change as well.
