A device for activating a passenger protection unit for a vehicle. The device includes a fuel element chamber having at least one fuel element, which is designed to generate a hot gas for activating the passenger protection unit by combustion, the fuel element chamber having an outlet opening for releasing the hot gas into the passenger protection unit, and the pressure container being designed to store a pressurized cold gas, the pressure container having at least one opening for the controlled release of the cold gas into the fuel element chamber.