Car crashes are dangerous for the people inside the vehicle; but if it’s a hybrid car that crashes, the first response crew is also at risk.

One of the many dangers with hybrid cars are high voltages now,” says Todd Chaney, director of public safety for Altoona. “When first responders or firefighters can suffer electrocution if they don’t know how to manage the voltage system."

The average hybrid battery runs from 144 volts, to more than 300 volts. Add that to the 12-volt auxiliary battery, and you're talking about a lot of power.

Advances in hybrid technology have all local fire departments looking to train their first responders.

“We're trying to find in Altoona some vendors who can train our fire fighters on the inherent dangers of hybrid cars,” says Chaney.

Chippewa Valley Technical College provides some training courses in hybrid rescue for its students, but it's not required.

Local hybrid dealers say they've helped out by showing their vehicles to fire departments.

“Just to see if they ever had to use the jaws of life, just what they'd have to do to take apart a car, or take apart a door just to get somebody out if they were in an accident, that sort of thing,” says General Sales Manager Mark Boeck of Ken Vance Car City.

Dealers are selling hybrids faster than ever, and with each new hybrid on the road, there's another chance of a possible crash.

Local fire departments tell us there have been few hybrid crashes so far in the area, and none of them have been severe.

However, they say it's always good to have a safety plan in place. Fire crews say the biggest challenge for them are the battery packs in the back of the cars, with wires leading to the front. Firefighters say they have to avoid those wires, so they don't get electrocuted.