Firefighters, drivers focus on bus safety

Jackson Fire and Rescue members teamed up with bus drivers Monday night to train on safety drills on how to best respond in case of a bus accident.

Bus drivers and firefighters from several departments, including Millersville and East County Fire Protection District, gathered at the Jackson's fire station to learn the ins and outs of the safety exits on four different models of school buses used by the district.

The training was something the district hasn't done in about four years, said Carol Woods, transportation direction for the district.

Firefighters examined the four buses with the drivers of each, making sure they knew emergency doors and exits were located and how they opened; some operate by swinging out, and some move up and down, Woods said.

Because of the "sheer volume" of potential injuries to children that could arise in the case of a serious accident with a school bus, it's vital firefighters know what to expect should they get called to such an emergency, said Stephen Baugh, spokesman for the fire department.

"There could be from five or six kids to a 77 passenger bus. In a serious case, we might need to transport as many as 25 to 30 children," Baugh said.

In those cases, ambulances and even extra school buses might be used to transport those without life-threatening injuries, he said.

After looking at the emergency exits on each style bus, child volunteers, mostly children of the bus drivers, hopped on the buses to play the role of injured victims so firefighters could practice getting them to safety.

Firefighters are planning another school bus safety drill in the coming months using a smoke machine so bus drivers are prepared in case of a fire and know what to expect, Baugh said.

The smoke-machine exercise is something they did several years ago and bus drivers have requested it again, he said.

"We got some new drivers and the old ones just want to see it again -- they think it's cool," he said.

bdiscosmo@semissourian.com

388-3640

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