1. Balancing an ACO Lifestyle
Safe Field Practices
Diane P. Webber, NACA

2. Vehicle Safety
Begins BEFORE you leave on a call.
Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you!
•Oil and oil filter changes
•Fuel filters
•Coolant and radiator flushes, air conditioning/
heating systems
•Transmission fluid changes
•Inspect all belts and hoses
•Inspect tires, replace as needed
•Check brakes and brake fluid
•Batteries and power steering fluids
•Windshield wiper blades and fluid
•Headlights, brake, warning and directional lights

3. Checking Your Oil
• Park on level ground. Be sure area is well lit.
• Wait a few minutes after turning off the engine
for your oil to settle.
• Dipstick is a long rod that goes deep into your
engine to check the oil level. It should have an
orange handle.
• Pull the dipstick out, wipe the end clean with a
towel, reinsert dipstick into the engine, pull out to
read level (where the oily part ends and dry part
begins).
• Don't add more than a quart of oil at once.

4. Checking Your Oil
A level between the
two dipstick lines
means you're level
is A-OK.

5. Checking / Filling
Your Coolant / Antifreeze
• Look for white opaque plastic overflow tank
next to the radiator
• Note markings on side indicating low and high
levels.
• Always check coolant when vehicle is cold.
• If low, top off with 50/50 mix of coolant/water.
• Unscrew/pop off cap of reservoir, add mixture
to full mark. Tightly replace cap.

6. Checking / Filling Your Coolant
Add coolant to the white reservoir.

7. Tire Pressure
Should be checked at least monthly,
if not more frequently.
• Crucial to safety next to brakes
• Incorrect pressure can compromise
cornering, braking and stability
• Improper pressure can lead to tire failure
and possible serious accident
• Improper pressure will affect your
comfort, fuel economy and tire life

8. Tire Pressure
If pressure is too high
• less tire touches the ground causing vehicle to
bounce around on road
• traction suffers, alters braking ability
Too low
• too much tire surface touches ground,
increasing friction between road and tire
• tires wear prematurely, and can overheat leading
to tire separation and accident
• tire squeals is a sign of low pressure

9. Tire Pressure
• Tire pressure also changes with temperature
fluctuation.
- pressure decreases by approx 1 lb per sq
inch for every 10 drop in outside air temp
Quiz: How many lbs per sq inch are your tires
underinflated if the last time you checked
your tire pressure was July (80), and now it’s
January (-20)?

10. How do you determine the correct
tire pressure for your vehicle's tires?
• Correct pressure can be found on the driver's
door pillar, the glove compartment door or
sometimes on the gas filler door.
• Pressure listed on tires is actually the MAXIMUM
allowable air pressure – not the recommended!
• Recommended pressure is
almost always LOWER than
the maximum.

11. Checking the Pressure
• Use an accurate tire gauge
– analog or dial-type (see photo)
– pencil-style gauges are often
inaccurate.
• Check pressure when the tire is
cold.
• Check air in all 4 tires – not just
one or two!
• Remember to check the spare
periodically.

12. Checking Your Tires
Tires should be checked
seasonally or BEFORE
you head off on a road trip.
TIP: Check tire pressure even if tires look fine.
Radial tires can be deceiving and can be
down 10 lbs of air or overinflated 10 lbs and
still look normal.

13. How to Change a Tire
Step 1: Choose your spot well
• Pull off the road so that you are safely out of the
flow of traffic
• Apply the parking brake, put car into "Park"
position.
• Step 2: Place a heavy object (e.g., rock,
concrete, spare wheel, etc.) in front of the front
and back tires.

14. How to Change a Tire
Step 3: Take out the spare tire and the jack.
• Locate the jack plate - usually located just in front of
the rear tires, and just behind the front tires
• Raise the jack until it is supporting
(but not lifting) the car.
• Loosen the lug nuts by turning
counterclockwise - Do not remove
the lug nuts, only loosen them!
• Remove the hubcap, if necessary

15. How to Change a Tire
Step 4: Pump the jack to lift
tire off the ground.
Step 5: Remove the flat tire
• NOW remove the lug nuts from
the bolts, and put them aside
• Grab the wheel
– it is easiest to grab the tire at the "nine o'clock"
and "three o'clock" positions
• Pull the wheel straight toward you, and off the car

16. How to Change a Tire
Step 6: Put on the spare tire
• Position the spare tire directly in front of the
wheel well, aligning the hole in the center of the
spare tire with the bolts on the car
• Position the tire on the threaded bolts, and
push tire onto the car completely.
• Replace the lugnuts on the bolts and tighten
them, but not too tight...just enough to hold
the tire in place while you lower the car

17. How to Change a Tire
Step 7: Lower the vehicle
• Lower the car with the
jack until the car is again
resting on all four tires
• Tighten the lugnuts,
starting with one, then
moving to the one
opposite it, and so on...

18. How to Change a Tire
Step 8: Put the tools away
• Place the flat tire where the spare was located, and
replace the jack and lug wench in their proper
locations
• Carefully inspect your work area making sure that
you're not leaving anything behind.
• Continue on to your destination, and have the flat
tire repaired ASAP!

19. Keep Your Brakes at Full Force
Check for clean brake fluid levels
to keep system operating
correctly…
Easy as 1 – 2 – 3!
• Always clean the area around
the cap.
• Add brake fluid slowly.
• Recheck in a few days.
• NEVER shake brake fluid bottle!

20. Top Off Your Washer Fluid
• Use only real
windshield washer fluid
– it doesn’t freeze!
• Locate opaque white
plastic bottle with windshield wiper symbol on
cap – usually blue.
• Unscrew and fill
Check to be sure that your windshield wipers are working and
can clear debris from the windshield!

21. AC System
Look for warning signs of trouble:
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Loud noises when the air conditioner is turned on.
AC not cooling like it should.
Water on vehicle’s floor mats.
Blower makes noises or doesn't blow at all.
Unusual odors coming from vehicle when it is running.
Defroster doesn't work.
Moisture on front or side windows.
Vehicle starts to run hot.
EXTRA moisture under the front of your vehicle when
it is parked.

22. Headlights and Brake lights
• All lights on your vehicle should be working at
all times.
• Always check headlight operation at night or
in a dark garage.
• Inspect the headlight lens and other lenses for
cracks and clarity (dull or milky).
• Turn the headlights on - the headlights should
shine bright.

23. Headlight Functions

24. Tail Lights, Side Marker, Reverse,
Running Light & Stop Light Bulbs
• Check operation at night or in dark garage.
• Step on brake pedal to check brake lights.
• Make sure all brake lights illuminate, including
the middle third brake light.
• Turn headlight switch to first
selection.
• Inspect all side marker, front
running lights, and tail lights.

25. Third or Upper Brake Lights
To check on this light
operation:
• Turn key to the "on"
position (do not start).
• Step on brake pedal
• All brake lights should
illuminate, including the
third or upper brake light.

26. Emergency Flashers
or Hazard Lights
• Locate the emergency
switch and activate.
• Check around vehicle to
make sure all lights are
functioning properly.
• Deactivate emergency
flasher switch to stop
flasher operation.

27. Directional Arrow Bars
Directional Arrow Bars alert drivers to changing
traffic patterns or an emergency incident.

28. Vehicle Equipment
•Tool Kit and Emergency Kit
•Leash / Catch pole / Snappy Snare / Nets
•Clip board / report forms / pen / Citation Book
•Camera / Radio
•First Aid Kit / Roadside safety items
•Local street directory and Atlas
•Animal transport items

29. Animal Transport Area
Heating and cooling systems
•Service regularly
•Clean or change filters
•Test system once a week!
Fresh Air System
•Dual fan, reversible flow system
•Check vent fan covers for leaks, worn/broken gaskets
•Clean vent cover screens of dust, hair and lint
•Test weekly

30. Animal Transport Boxes
With all the bells and whistles.
Without.

31. Check each cage
•Look for loose screws, broken brackets, etc
•Confirm all cages latch securely
•Cages are cleaned, sanitized and ready to receive
animals
Replace/replenish supplies immediately!
•Leashes, nets, control poles
•Fresh news paper
•Clean towels and blankets
•Food and water bowls
•Forms, citation book, pens, clipboard, etc.
Clean /decontaminate the ENTIRE vehicle each
day!
•Everything cage , anything used or touched, needs to be
decontaminated!

32. Safety on the Road
Keep a current “Next Exit” book in
your vehicle
•This will give you the location and
types of a fuel/service stations,
hotels, restaurants and rest areas
along all major highways.

33. Roadside Safety
• Flares, Reflectors, Safety cones
• Weather Alert Radio
• Emergency Road Service
agreement
• Flashlight (2) Batteries (lots)
• Chains, shovel

34. Driver Safety
Know your limitations
•If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe about what you are be
asked to do, speak up!
•Know and obey the law!
•Wear your seatbelts
•Drive at or just under the speed limit
•Use turn signals
•Laws differ from state to state for
commercial vehicles
Drive with headlights and running lights on
•In daylight hours also!
Be well-rested!

35. Distractions

36. Basic Safe Driving Tips to Remember
• Proper use of lights and emergency signals
• Consistent use of directional lights, rear/side
mirrors
• Safe passing and lane change practices
• Safe speeds for road conditions
• Staying with the traffic tempo
• Follow at safe distances – “2 second rule”
• Yield the right-of-way
• Full and gradual stops at all traffic stops,
railroads, and when required
• SLOW DOWN!!!!

37. Represent Your Agency Well!
• In a marked vehicle, your vehicle is a
moving billboard
• Keep vehicle (and uniform) clean
and presentable
• Be courteous; allow others to cut in
• Maintain extra distance between
vehicles
• People will be interested in what you
are doing!
• Bring flyers/pamphlets to hand out