The other day I was reading some of my competitors reviews when I noticed a recurring theme. Their passengers were complaining that their wheelchairs were unsafely secured during their ride. Coming from a safety background, this hit a nerve with me, so I thought I would share this method in hopes that it will help.

Securing a wheelchair in a vehicle is an important safety measure that requires careful attention to detail. Here are four crucial details to help properly secure a wheelchair in a transportation vehicle:

1) Straps: Ensure the straps are designed for wheelchair restraints and in good working order before use.

2) Angles: Check your angles. The base of straps (where they connect to the vehicle) in front should be wider than the chair. The base of the straps in the back of the chair should be narrower than the width of the chair. The angles of the straps themselves should be close to 45 degrees from the floor of the vehicle to the where they connect to the wheelchair.

3) Frame: Ensure the straps are connected to the frame of the wheelchair.

4) Eliminate slack: After all of the straps are connected, disengage the brakes on the chair and give it a push and a pull, this lets the rachets fully tighten. Then re-engage the wheelchair's brakes.

Now that the wheelchair is secure, don't forget to use the seatbelt to secure the passenger.