Vehicle rescue sheets and emergency response guides: what they show and how to find yours
How modern cars complicate rescue and how you can help crews reach you faster
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rules and guidance, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) findings, European Commission and European Transport Safety Council reports, and published research on extrication. Every source is listed at the end.
Why rescue crews treat modern cars differently
Modern cars pack safety parts into doors, pillars, seats and the roof. When someone is trapped after a collision, those parts sit right where crews may need to cut. The features that kept you alive are the ones crews must plan around to get you out. That is why responders may pause to check a reference before they start cutting.
Air bags and other charged parts
Each air bag has an inflator. A small igniter starts a chemical reaction, and the gas fills the bag in less than one twentieth of a second [1]. Parts that are set off by an igniter like this are often called pyrotechnic devices. Frontal air bags alone have saved more than 50,000 lives over 30 years, according to NHTSA [1]. Many vehicles also carry side air bags [1].
That speed is why rescuers respect any air bag that did not go off. One that stayed folded during the collision may still fire while crews work or give care [2]. A companion article covers undeployed air bags in depth.
Stronger steel and sturdier roofs
Federal rules push automakers to build cabins that hold their shape. The roof strength standard aims to keep the roof from crushing into the cabin in a rollover [3]. For vehicles rated at 6,000 pounds or less, it tests the roof with a force of up to three times the vehicle’s unloaded weight [3].
European safety experts note that automakers now use stronger metals in vehicle frames [4]. One side effect is that freeing people can take longer [4]. Crews want to know where those reinforced zones are before they start.
New power sources
Electric and hybrid vehicles changed the parts and structures inside the car, which created new problems for rescuers [4]. Crews need to know where the high voltage battery and cables run before cutting near them.
What a rescue sheet is, and how it differs from a full guide
A rescue sheet is a short version of a fuller guide. It shows, at a glance, how a vehicle is built so crews can use it at the scene of an accident [5]. An emergency response guide goes deeper. Federal rules describe it as a detailed, model specific document on fire, submersion, fluid leaks, towing and storage [5]. Both serve first responders, such as fire and EMS crews, and second responders, such as tow operators [5].
Many of these documents follow an international standard called ISO 17840. Its four parts cover rescue sheets for cars and light trucks, rescue sheets for buses and heavy trucks, and a template for full guides [4]. The fourth part sets labels and colors that show what fuel or energy a vehicle uses [4]. The layout uses color coded sections in a set order, so responders can find key facts quickly [6].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Rescue sheets, response guides and energy labels compared
| Document | What it covers | When crews use it |
|---|---|---|
| Rescue sheet | Where key parts sit in the vehicle [5, 7] | At the scene, before and during cutting |
| Emergency response guide | Fire, water, leaks, towing and storage in detail [5] | Training, planning and longer incidents |
| Energy label (ISO 17840 part 4) | Colors and symbols for the fuel or energy type [4] | Quick ID of what powers the vehicle |
What crews look for on the page
A rescue sheet answers a few urgent questions. Where is it safe to cut? Where is it not? What could fire, leak or shock someone?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) described one automaker’s guide for a sport utility vehicle. It showed where the high voltage parts, air bags, inflation cylinders, seat belt pretensioners and high strength body materials sat [8]. A pretensioner pulls the seat belt snug the instant a collision begins. The guide also gave steps to shut down that model’s high voltage system [8]. Many electric vehicles have a cut loop, a low voltage wire loop that trained crews can cut to disconnect the high voltage system [8].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Parts a rescue sheet shows and why they matter
| Part shown on the sheet | Why it matters during a rescue |
|---|---|
| Air bags and inflators | An air bag that did not go off may still fire during rescue [2, 8] |
| Seat belt pretensioners | Guides mark where they sit so crews can plan their cuts [8] |
| High strength zones | Stronger metal can add time to a rescue [4, 8] |
| Batteries, fuel tanks and cylinders | Crews need to know where they are before cutting or lifting [4] |
| High voltage shutdown points | They show how to cut power on that exact model [8] |
Why minutes inside a wrecked car matter
Extrication means freeing a person who is trapped inside a vehicle. A 2025 expert consensus from the United Kingdom notes that up to 40% of patients may stay trapped in their vehicles after a collision [9]. The authors of an earlier expert study note that people who stay trapped have worse outcomes [10].
Emergency medicine guidance warns that a long extrication raises the risk of problems such as worsening bleeding and further spinal injury [2]. A European Commission review links shorter extrication times to a lower risk of being admitted to the hospital with a major injury [7].
Rescue information helps here. In one German accident research test, a crew with a rescue sheet finished the extrication 30% faster than a crew without one [4, 7]. In a separate Spanish study, simulated rescues were about 14% shorter on average when crews used an app that gave quick access to the vehicle’s technical details [11].
How a rescue usually unfolds
The European review describes a common order of work. Crews first assess the scene and sort patients by need. They then stabilize the vehicle so it cannot shift. Only after that do they open a way in and remove people quickly and safely [7].
Thinking is also changing. The 2025 UK consensus calls self extrication, where a patient climbs out with guidance, the preferred first approach when suitable [9]. It favors shorter entrapment over holding a person perfectly still at any cost [9]. That is the crew’s call, based on your injuries, not a reason to rush out alone.
The new U.S. rule for electric powered vehicles
Until recently, no federal rule set what these guides had to contain. In a 2020 safety report, the NTSB found that most automakers’ guides lacked vehicle specific details on fighting high voltage battery fires [8]. It urged automakers to follow the ISO 17840 template [8]. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation supports that call for clear, standard rescue information. In one crash the NTSB reviewed, a fire officer opened the automaker’s online guide at the scene to see where crews could and could not cut [8].
NHTSA set requirements in a final rule published December 20, 2024 [6]. The rule is now codified as 49 CFR Part 561. Here is what it requires:
- It covers electric powered cars, trucks and buses. NHTSA’s library lists battery electric, hybrid, plug in hybrid and fuel cell models [5, 12].
- It applies to vehicles manufactured on or after December 22, 2025 [5].
- Automakers must send both a rescue sheet and an emergency response guide to NHTSA before the first vehicle is sold or leased [5].
- Rescue sheets must follow the ISO 17840 layout and give crews the information they need to free occupants [5].
- Response guides must follow the ISO 17840 template and cover fire, submersion, leaks, towing, transport and storage [5].
NHTSA said the documents would be public and searchable on its website [6]. Its emergency response guides page now lets anyone filter by make and model, though the documents are meant for responders [12].
The rule has limits. It does not require a label, sticker, QR code or printed sheet in the vehicle [5]. It also does not cover cars powered only by gasoline or diesel [5].
What Europe does, and why it matters here
European countries were using rescue sheets years before the U.S. rule. There, they may be posted online, or carried in the car behind the driver’s sun visor [4, 7]. Germany and the Netherlands built full databases of rescue sheets for their emergency services [4].
Europe’s eCall system, an automatic crash alert, can send the vehicle identification number (VIN) to responders [4]. That lets them pull up the matching rescue sheet quickly [4]. Euro NCAP, Europe’s new car safety rating program, launched an app for rescue crews in 2020 [13]. It holds rescue sheets for all vehicles the program tested from the start of that year [13]. The program also rewards automakers when their rescue information is accurate and easy to reach [14].
The lesson for U.S. drivers is simple. A rescue sheet only helps if a crew can find the right one in seconds.
Find your vehicle’s rescue information
You do not need to understand every symbol on a rescue sheet. Knowing where to find yours can still save time. Set aside 15 minutes for these steps.
- Write down your vehicle’s exact model year, make, model and trim. Note its power type: gasoline, diesel, hybrid, plug in hybrid, battery electric or fuel cell.
- Find your VIN on your registration, insurance card or the driver’s side of the dashboard.
- If your vehicle is electric powered, open NHTSA’s emergency response guides page and filter by make and model [12].
- Check the automaker’s website and your owner’s manual for a section written for emergency responders.
- If you cannot find anything, ask the dealer’s service department or the automaker’s customer line for the rescue sheet for your exact model and year.
- Save a copy on your phone and share it with others who drive the vehicle.
- Repeat these steps when you buy another vehicle or add major equipment.
If you only find a guide for a nearby model year, do not assume it fits. Battery locations, air bag layouts and body materials can change between years and trims.
QR codes, stickers and printed sheets
You may see decals with a QR code, a square barcode a phone camera can read, linked to a car’s rescue information. No federal rule requires these in the United States [5]. This review could not confirm how often U.S. crews scan them, and practices vary by department.
If you decide to use a sticker or a printout, check these things:
- It links to the automaker’s official sheet for your exact model, year and trim.
- The link will keep working, and it does not depend on a paid service that could lapse.
- It does not block your view or cover any required labels.
- You remove or update it when you sell the vehicle or change major equipment.
A printed sheet behind the sun visor is a known habit in parts of Europe [7]. The United States has no matching standard spot. If you want to carry a printout, ask your local fire department where its crews would look.
How to help crews at the scene
Our post crash care guide covers calling 911 and keeping the scene safe. This section focuses on what helps a rescue crew once they arrive.
Tell them what they cannot see
Tell the 911 call taker and the first crew member who reaches you what powers the vehicle. Badges can fall off, and some hybrids look like any other car. Also mention equipment that changes the vehicle’s structure or wiring. Examples include a wheelchair lift or ramp, hand controls, a modified seat, extra batteries, or a fuel conversion. That kind of equipment will not appear on the automaker’s rescue sheet.
Let crews lead
Answer questions about pain, especially in the neck or back, as clearly as you can. If a crew asks whether you can climb out, tell them how you feel. Let them decide. Do not try to pull a trapped person free yourself unless staying put is more dangerous, such as with fire.
Rescue can be loud and frightening. Crews may break glass or cut metal close to you, even when a door still opens, to make more room. If a responder asks for the key, hand it over.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone look at the rescue sheets NHTSA posts?
Yes. NHTSA said the documents would be public and searchable on its website, and its page lets you filter by make and model [6, 12]. They are written for trained responders [12]. Looking up your vehicle helps you understand it and share the right details. It is not a guide for doing rescue or high voltage work yourself.
Does my gasoline car have a rescue sheet?
It may, but no federal rule requires one. The U.S. requirement covers electric powered vehicles only [5]. Check the automaker’s website and your owner’s manual, or ask the dealer. Gasoline cars have air bags, pretensioners and strong steel too, so crews still benefit from good information.
Should I keep a printed rescue sheet in my car?
It is not a U.S. standard. In parts of Europe, a printed sheet behind the driver’s sun visor is a known practice [7]. U.S. crews may look online instead, as in one crash the NTSB reviewed [8]. Ask your local fire department whether a printout would help and where they would look. If you carry one, make sure it matches your exact model and year.
Are QR code stickers required in the United States?
No. The federal rule requires automakers to send rescue sheets and response guides to NHTSA [5]. It does not require any sticker, label or QR code on the vehicle [5]. If you use one, confirm that it links to the official document for your exact vehicle, and keep it current.
My electric car was built before December 2025. Is there a guide for it?
The federal requirement applies to vehicles made on or after December 22, 2025 [5]. Many automakers had guides before then, and the NTSB reviewed several in its 2020 report [8]. Start with NHTSA’s library and the automaker’s website. If neither has your model, ask the automaker directly.
Will knowing my rescue sheet change what I should do after an accident?
Not much. Your main jobs stay the same: get to safety if you can, call 911 and follow responders’ directions. What changes is the quality of the details you can share. Knowing your power type and added equipment helps crews find the right information faster. That matters, since shorter extrications are linked to a lower risk of hospital admission with a major injury [7].
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation encourages every driver to know exactly what they drive and where to find its rescue information. Today’s cars are much safer in a crash, but the parts that protect you can make rescue more complex. Rescue sheets and emergency response guides give crews a map, and evidence suggests a good map shortens the time a trapped person waits for care.
Your part is simple. Know exactly what you drive and find its rescue information before you need it. Keep a list of added equipment, and be cautious about stickers that may not point to the right document. If a crash happens, share what you know and let trained crews lead.
Related articles
- Post crash care: what to do in the first minutes after a crash
- Electric and hybrid vehicle safety: a practical guide for families
- What to do with an electric vehicle after a serious crash
- Air bags and seat belts need checks before you drive again
- Work zone and move over safety: protect road crews, responders and you
Sources and further reading
- 1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Vehicle Air Bags and Injury Prevention. No update date shown; accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/air-bags
- 2Ginglen JG, Tong H. EMS Gaining Access and Extrication. StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf). Last updated February 18, 2025. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482471
- 3Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR 571.216a, Standard No. 216a; Roof crush resistance; Upgraded standard. Up to date as of September 24, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/section-571.216a
- 4European Transport Safety Council (REVIVE project). Case Study: Rescue Sheets and Information for First and Second Responders (ISO 17840). Published September 3, 2019. etsc.eu/…/2019_revive_case_study_rescue_sheets.pdf
- 5Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR Part 561, Documentation for Electric-Powered Vehicles. Up to date as of September 18, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/part-561
- 6National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Register. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; FMVSS No. 305a Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity (final rule, document 2024-28707). Published December 20, 2024. federalregister.gov/…/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards…
- 7European Commission, European Road Safety Observatory. Road Safety Thematic Report: Post-impact care. Version 1.1, February 2023. road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/…/2976be95-90f3-4a5c-8045-d9893b5f75a2_e…
- 8National Transportation Safety Board. Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles (NTSB/SR-20/01). Adopted November 13, 2020. Data year: 2017 to 2018 (crashes and fires investigated). ntsb.gov/…/SR2001.pdf
- 9Nutbeam T, Fenwick R, Haldane C, et al. Extrication following a motor vehicle collision: a consensus statement on behalf of The Faculty of Pre-hospital Care, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine (indexed in PubMed). Published January 6, 2025. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39762917
- 10Nutbeam T, Fenwick R, Smith JE, et al. A Delphi study of rescue and clinical subject matter experts on the extrication of patients following a motor vehicle collision. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine (indexed in PubMed). Published June 20, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35725580
- 11Morales A, González-Aguilera D, López AI, Gutiérrez MA. A new approach to road accident rescue. Traffic Injury Prevention (indexed in PubMed). Published November 13, 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26865038
- 12National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Emergency Response Guides. No update date shown; accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/emergency-response-guides
- 13European Transport Safety Council. New app helps rescue workers extricate vehicle occupants. Published August 28, 2020. etsc.eu/…/new-app-helps-rescue-workers-extricate…
- 14European Transport Safety Council. New Euro NCAP tests will look at impact on occupants of other vehicles. Published May 21, 2020. etsc.eu/…/new-euro-ncap-tests-will-look-at-impac…
This article reflects the safety priorities of vehicle rescue and helping emergency crews reach trapped people quickly. It is general safety education, not legal, medical or insurance advice. Rules change, so verify details with official sources. In an emergency, call 911 and follow the directions of the call taker and responders. For questions about your own vehicle, contact the automaker or dealer, and ask your local fire department about local rescue practices. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Vehicle rescue sheets and emergency response guides: what they show and how to find yours.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/vehicle-rescue-sheets-and-emergency-response-guides/. Reviewed October 2026.
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