Many of us have left something on in the car and drained the battery while we were inside the store or doing something else. This causes the battery to die and results in the need for a jump. But do you know how to connect the jumper cables safely and correctly? Here are some tips to help keep you safe when connecting your jumper cables to your Toyota cars.

Always attach the cables to the dead battery first. Dead batteries often emit hazardous gases that could ignite with a simple spark. If the dead battery is connected first, you don't have to worry about the cables sparking on that end and starting a fire or creating an explosion.

Match the colors. Connect the red end of the cables to the red post on the battery. Do the same with the black.

Never let the ends of the cables touch once one of them is connected to a battery. This could create sparks and cause damage to your battery and yourself.

Instead of connecting the negative (black) end of the cable to the bad battery, clamp it on something metal to create a ground.

Disconnect the cables in reverse order, making sure to disconnect the grounded cable first.