Seat belts are sparsely used among firefighters en route to emergencies due to the inconvenience and difficulty to put them on while in full protective gear, according to fire officials.

But Prince George’s County has become one of the only nationwide jurisdictions placing new emphasis on this aspect of firefighter safety.

The College Park Fire/EMS Station has retrofitted a fire engine and ladder truck with ReadyReach seat belt systems and a second fire engine is in the process of having one added. The safety belt system extends seat belt straps for firefighters to easily put on even when in full fire protective gear and is located outside and above the seat, as opposed to behind it.