THE LATEST ON THE FORD HYBRID ESCAPE SUV IS THAT IN AN ACCIDENT, FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND RESCUE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL DEALING WITH THE VEHICLES.
IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO AN ACCIDENT, BRIAN MILLS, PARAMEDIC AND FIREFIGHTER, OF THE NORTH METRO FIRE AND RESCUE OF DENVER SAID, "WITH THE HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEMS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXTREMELY HIGH LEVELS OF ELECTRICITY THE RESPONDERS COME IN CONTACT WITH, SO THAT'S THE PRIMARY DANGER."
KEVIN KLEIN, ( A CERTIFIED MECHANIC ON FORD HYBRIDS) WHO WORKS FOR O'MEARA FORD, IN THE DENVER AREA, SAID THAT WORKERS ON THE HYBRIDS RECEIVE EXTENSIVE TRAINING ON HOW TO WORK ON THE CARS.
THE WORKERS ON THE HYBRIDS, PUT ORANGE CONES AROUND THE VEHICLE SO THAT OTHER WORKERS KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS WORKING ON THE HYBRID AND OTHER WORKERS ARE TO STAY AWAY. THE CONES ARE ALSO PUT UP BECAUSE IF THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE BEING WORKED ON IS OPENED IT REACTIVATES THE SYSTEM AND THEREFORE THE MECHANIC COULD BE ELECTROCUTED.
THE WORKERS ALSO WEAR TWO PAIRS OF GLOVES. THEY PUT THE FIRST PAIR ON TO PROTECT AGAINST A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SURGE. THE SECOND PAIR (LEATHER GLOVES) ARE WORN OVER THE FIRST PAIR TO PROTECT THE FIRST PAIR FROM GETTING TORN. THE GLOVES ARE ALWAYS INSPECTED PRIOR TO USE.
EACH WORKER ALSO WEAR FACE PROTECTION IN CASE OF VOLTAGE FLASH.
KEVIN KLEIN SAID, "WE HAVE TO CONE OFF THE AREA WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE JUST OPENING THE DOOR ACTIVATES THE SYSTEM. SO IF YOU'RE UNDER THE HOOD WORKING ON IT AND SOMEBODY COMES UP AND OPENS THE DOOR YOU CAN GET ELECTROCUTED."
THE FINAL STEP THAT WORKERS DO BEFORE WORKING ON THE HYBRIDS, IS THEY SET UP A HOOK SO THAT IF THE WORKER WERE TO GET ELECTROCUTED, THEY CAN BE PULLED AWAY FROM THE CAR.
UNDER THE CAR ARE ORANGE ELECTRICAL CABLES THAT CARRY VOLTAGE UP TO 330 VOLTS. A WORKER SAID THAT 50 OR 100 VOLTS IS ENOUGH TO KILL SOMEONE.
THE MOHEGAN TRIBE HAS A FLEET OF THESE VEHICLES (FORD ESCAPE HYBRID) BEING USED BY SECURITY, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS. MAYBE WE SHOULD CALL THEM THE ELECTRIC CHAIR CARS. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
If we have all of these hybrid cars has the fire department,police department,and protective services or even the 911 dispatch center been given any specialized training on how to deal with these cars if something were to happen?
Post a Comment