The extrication.com link posted above by Dr. Fusco is the real deal. Bobwho's idea about carrying a tool to cut a stuck belt and break glass is a good example of rational plannig for unlikely emergencies. In any vehicle. Gadgets like that are sometimes available for as little as $10, including marginally useful tire pressure gauge and flashlight. A backup in case your good flashlight and TP gauge take a holiday. Given media coverage of what might go wrong with Prius (electricity, noise etc.) I have no doubt that if such a tragedy actually occurred, we'd be reading about it.
Just curious, but does anything happen if a powerline falls down in front of you? Are there any special precautions I should know about?
Yes, avoid hitting it...in any car. But if you're asking about special precautions b/c of being in a hybrid...then the answer is NO.
If a powerline falls on your car, say during an accident or during a bad thunderstorm, for the love of god STAY IN THE CAR unless it is not safe to do so (Fire, flood, etc). As long as you stay in the car, you should be safe from the powerline voltage. If due to fire or flood you must evacuate, that is tricky. Try to jump clear of the vehicle, without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time
Yup-I'm a firefighter/paramedic by trade, and I received "special" training on extricating people from hybrids several years ago. It was, in fact, mostly to dispel rumors about the dangers of the vehicles. Based on personal experience, I'm way more worried about being injured by an accidentally deploying airbag in a conventional vehicle than being electrocuted by a hybrid. In fact, our rescue "guru", who is a nationally recognized trainer in the field, personally purchased a hybrid (sorry, a Honda Civic) shortly after he taught the training (he's still driving it, several years later).
I make more than my friends who are teachers, engineers, college professors, nurses. If I choose to pursue my career to the fullest (i.e. promote) I'll be able to make close to 100k a year. Not bad money for the midwest.
FWIW I had a chance to see the insides of an HV battery from a Katrina flood damaged Prius when I was visiting Steve Woodruff's shop last fall. There was zero evidence of any sort of discharge event, it appears everything worked as advertised. Rob
Next time someone gives you grief about being electrocuted in a Prius accident give them this link: Infant killed in fiery crash on 110 Freeway - SGVTribune.com
