Vehicle accidents are among the biggest killers of firefighters — and arguably the most preventable. While ensuring seat belts are always worn by firefighters, other measures must also be taken.

Fire departments should have maintenance programs for apparatus in accordance with manufacturer specifications and instructions. Regular checks can reduce the chances of incidents, such as blow-outs.

To ensure the safety of vehicles, maintenance programs should  have scheduled inspections, with agreed procedures to take apparatus out of service until any problems have been fixed.