who is actually on the bus and who is injured. “Te driver should have a checklist of procedures that follow
a step-by-step progression,” Hibbert said. “Tis should be in large type, easy to read, and it should be easy to find on the bus. Also, when the driver is talking with the police, they should provide all required information—but don’t volunteer information, and certainly don’t make statements such as, ‘It’s my fault.’ Along with that, bus drivers are emotionally involved and should never speak to the media. Tat is an administrator’s role.”
COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS Denny Coughlin, president of School Bus Training, has taught
over 15,000 emergency personnel how to respond to school bus accidents. Coughlin also advised inviting police and firefighters to the transportation department. “Get together ahead of time, so you aren’t dealing with new people at a crash site.” He said that it is easier for a transportation director to
“try to enter the scene when the road is blocked off, if they already know some of the firefighters or police. While the first responders are at the transportation department, show them the different kinds of buses, and let them examine the buses and equipment.” Coughlin’s advice on the written plan is this: “You can
download a cookie-cutter plan, and what happens is that no one practices it. Districts need to customize the plan, and then hold practice drills. You can even park a bus in your own lot and practice. Have the driver call in an accident. Have the dispatcher ask the driver questions. Find the shortcomings. You could even do a table-top drill. Tese drills don’t cost anything, but are very valuable.”
Coughlin said it is also important after a major incident to hold a debriefing session in which everyone involved on the scene is invited. “Te reason is two-fold,” he advised. “One, you can talk about what happened and learn from any mistakes made. But just as important, and the reason that only those people who were at the scene should be involved, is that in talking over what happened, this gets emotions out in the open.” He added that, “We know so much more about post-trau- matic stress now than we did a few years ago. Not letting emotions fester is very important, especially when children are involved. A debriefing isn’t necessary, except after a serious accident that may have an effect on people in the future.” Importantly, Coughlin suggested that transportation department
could request that a firefighter or police officer come in and help, because “they hold debriefings regularly.”
34 School Transportation News • SEPTEMBER 2018
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