SPECIAL REPORT
on fire, then evacuation would be the next course of ac- tion. However, if the bus encounters live power lines, then the safest thing for the students and drivers to do is to stay inside the bus and wait for the fire department to arrive. In addition to downed power lines and fires, there
could be hazardous materials present, weather con- ditions that would make evacuation unsafe, medical emergencies and other variables at play. All these sce- narios make training with first responders even more crucial. Hasenmeier advised that districts bring buses that are equipped with wheelchair lifts, occupant re- straint systems and seatbelts, so that if an evacuation or extrication is required first responders can operate those systems. Plus, following the trend of alternative clean fuels/en-
ergy in the school bus industry, Hasenmeier also noted that he would like to see some kind of uniform iden- tifier on electric buses so that fire departments can be prepared for an electrical fire, as that would be handled differently from a fire on a diesel bus. [Editor’s Note: some states/OEMs have requirements relating to electric school bus markings, but they can vary.] Building a relationship with law enforcement, fire
departments and EMS personnel through training will better integrate the district and first responders, he ex- plained. It not only facilitates important discussions but when an emergency does occur, there is some familiari- ty between both parties. Hasenmeier, who will be leading the closing STN EXPO Reno general session, “Fire Rescue Response to a School Bus Emergency,” has also written a book on school bus extrication. He noted that many districts have a written emergency plan based on the type of incident, and then have a checklist for drivers to follow. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea for school districts to bounce
that plan off of first responders to see if they have any other input or ideas to add to it,” he said. Hasenmeier noted that he’s received feedback from
districts that performed training and then successfully implemented the incident management training in an actual emergency situation. “The more classes I’ve done, I’ve gotten more and more calls that say ‘Hey, that worked,’” he shared.
Quick Communication As communication is central to effective incident management, Adkins said that Cherry Creek in Colo- rad has implemented a dispatch operations center that monitors the transportation, safety and security, and maintenance within the district. CCSD transports 21,000 students over 100 miles daily, using a fleet of 593 vehi- cles which includes 332 school buses. Adkins explained the importance of having a centralized location where districts can directly communicate with first responders and manage the incident with minimal confusion.
20 School Transportation News • MAY 2024 “The CCSD communications center can bridge radio
communications with our law enforcement partners during emergencies,” said Adkins. “This again allows fluid information to flow realtime in these incidents.” Hasenmeier commented on quick communication, noting that things were a lot different 20 years ago, when students didn’t have access to cell phones and social me- dia. He advised districts to have a plan for getting ahead of news stories by managing the information that is being made public. This includes identifying a district represen- tative and placing them at the incident scene as soon as possible to quickly disseminate important details with first responders and media outlets. He also noted that some districts have mass communication phone calls or texts that can relay the bus number an extent of injuriesas well as send notifications to parents. “Try to calm that storm of social media and the frenzy
of a lot more people coming to the scene,” he advised. “Media is quick and social media is even quicker. Get the story out, the truth out to curb the rumor mills and news stories of facts that aren’t true.” Brooks also commented on the release of public
information. “During emergencies, the speed with which information is released will always be important,” he said. “This is where having preapproved releases is beneficial, and the PIO can work with the law enforce- ment PIO to ensure certain, sensitive information is not released to the public until the appropriate time.” Adkins said that Cherry Creek works directly with its
legal department to ensure that transportation employ- ees involved in any school bus-related incident do not have to engage with or release information to the public. He explained that there is a set group of supervisors and managers that are in charge of reviewing video footage, interviewing employees, taking statements, and han- dling administrative, leave if necessary. Adkins concluded by saying that Cherry Creek transportation directors meet monthly with district leadership, safety and security, and principals to “stay in- formed of updated practices and expectations,” he said. “They attend hands-on training for lockdowns, secured perimeters, active shooter and reunification process- es. Transportation leadership attends informational conferences, such as STN’s, to further gain technology advancements and safety practices from districts across the nation. Take what you have learned that will apply to your district and bring it back to implement.” Detailed planning, frequent training, collaboration with
first responders, and communication response protocols are all integral steps to preparing transportation depart- ments in the event of any school bus related incident. “Create a plan, practice the plan, work the plan,” said
Brooks. “Once proper planning has occurred and an effective plan has been created, then practice the plan to ensure it works, then simply follow the plan.” ●
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