According to a 2002 Annals of Emergency Medicine study, there are 12.7 fatalities per 100,000 EMS employees. About 74 percent of those fatalities were transportation related.

While transporting on public road systems presents unpredictable dangers, there are key steps that paramedics, EMTs and managers can take to ensure safety while behind the wheel.

Policies

• Do not require workers to drive irregular hours or far beyond their normal working hours.
• Adopt a structured vehicle maintenance program.
• Teach workers strategies for recognizing and managing driver fatigue and in-vehicle distractions.

Driver Performance

• Make sure you always buckle your seat belt during transport.
• Driving with lights and sirens is not an invitation to drive recklessly. Drive safely and within the limits of the situation.
• Do not conduct business on a cell phone while driving.

For more information, visit the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-136/default.html.