Pre-Service Course Trainee Manual
Contents
1. s gradually growing larger is just growing larger not getting closer Preschoolers are not ready to cross the road on their own 13 1 2 Behavior management tips with young children Working with preschoolers can be an energizing even hilarious experience Many school bus drivers who do it every day love it But managing young children s behavior is not always easy ask a daycare provider Ask a parent Time tested behavior management tips for preschool bus runs include e Activity bag Small children are often too short to see out the bus window contributing to boredom restlessness and mischief during the ride Age appropriate picture books children s magazines coloring books and crayons or simple handheld electronic games can help keep them occupied during the bus ride e Games Young children love to play games Simple find it games are usually a hit Count the red cars Who do we pick up next Spot the cows etc Of course many children get sillier and louder the longer they play a game Know when to transition to a quieter activity before things get out of hand Who can keep quiet the longest is always worth a try e Music Most young children love music Sing alongs such as The wheels on the bus are usually a big hit You might attract a few startled looks from other motorists as you sing along but so long as you maintain focus on driving who cares A CD o2. Like anything else young children are in close contact with safety restraints need regular cleaning 13 2 5 Cleaning restraints Like anything else young children are in close contact with safety restraints need regular cleaning Frequent wiping down with a non allergenic disinfectant or a mild detergent and warm water is a good practice If a restraint is very soiled it should be taken out of the bus and thoroughly cleaned Some models allow the fabric seat material to be removed and washed Read the instructions carefully to avoid damaging the restraint 13 2 6 Replacing restraints Child safety restraints do not last forever Federal law requires manufacturers to define a mandatory retirement date for each restraint A sticker with the retirement date should be attached to the restraint usually the back or base Restraints with any visible damage cracks in the shell or base tears or cuts in the belts should be replaced immediately Restraints that were on board a bus involved in a significant crash should also be retired 13 3 Loading and Unloading Preschool Children 13 3 1 Challenges Preschoolers are short It s hard to spot them when they are near your bus As noted above preschoolers are naturally impulsive They are incapable of fully grasping traffic dangers You must expect the unexpected every time you pick up or drop off a preschooler at a bus stop Preschool children often have a hard time
3. Q Metal clip holding the seat cushion on d Retractable portion of the belt 10 TRUE or FALSE In most cases the quickest way to get a young child out of the bus in an emergency is to remove the child from the restraint UNIT 13 NOTES amp QUESTIONS New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 15
4. of all ages not just preschoolers Safety vests are sometimes used when transporting older children who cannot stay in their seats Safety vests are usually attached to the bus seat with a cam wrap that goes around the seat back Safety vests on school buses must include a crotch strap to prevent a child from sliding down and choking e Booster seats with built in harness The only booster seats that can be used on school buses are those that come with a built in five point harness Older types of booster seats that are secured with only a lap belt belt positioning boosters are not permitted on school buses 13 2 3 Placement of safety restraints on the bus It s usually best to place children riding in safety restraints near the front of the bus You can keep a closer eye on them in the first few rows In an emergency you have quicker access to them Keep in mind two important nevers when deciding where to place safety restraints 1 Safety restraints should never be placed in a seat row adjacent to an emergency window or door The restraint could slow down an emergency evacuation 2 Unrestrained passengers other children or the attendant should never ride in the row behind a child in a safety restraint It is dangerous New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 8 13 2 4 Proper securement of safety restraints Properly securing car seats and other types of
5. plan for your bus Use the Evacuation Plan form on the next page to write down your completed plan Keep it on your bus If new preschoolers are placed your route during the year revise your plan as necessary New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 12 PRESCHOOL RUN EVACUATION PLAN Bus Route Date of plan Driver Attendant KKK Instructions For each of the two evacuation scenarios below sketch in the exits of the bus and where each child is seated Indicate children using wheelchairs by WC Next draw an arrow to the best exit for each scenario Finally number the children according to the sequence you will use to get them out of the bus Front Engine Fire Fire at Rear of Bus New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 13 13 4 3 Seat belt cutters Sometimes the quickest way to get a child out of a safety restraint is to cut the straps Seat belt cutters work most best when drawn at an angle across a tight belt Practice this with a discarded belt A seat belt cutter should be located near the driver s seat so you can reach it quickly in an emergency Ina rollover you might need it to free yourself from your own seat belt before you can rescue the students Seat belt cutters are inexpensive Some bus drivers carry one of their own too just in case On a run with many preschoolers on board an additional c
6. safety restraints is extremely important but it s not easy in a school bus Bus seats are closely spaced leaving little room to work as you secure the restraint Attach the safety restraint to the bus seat first and then secure the child in the restraint thinking of it as a two step process is less confusing Utilize the following procedures when securing child a safety restraint in your bus Take the time to familiarize yourself with a restraint before trying to secure it in your bus Each type of restraint must be secured according to its particular design Always read the manufacturer s instructions before trying to secure an unfamiliar restraint Instructions should be provided with every restraint Instructions are often stored in a plastic sleeve attached to the base of the restraint Attach the restraint to the bus seat first then secure the child in the restraint Thinking of it as a two step process is less confusing Car seats are usually secured in a bus seat by the bus lap belt The lap belt must be routed through the back of the car seat exactly as directed by the manufacturer Follow instructions carefully Kneel on the car seat when tightening the lap belt Use your weight to press the car seat into the seat cushion as you pull on the lap belt This is the best way to get a restraint tight enough in the bus seat It should be so tight against the bus seat that it won t move If the st
7. seated in an appropriate Child Safety Restraint System CSRS when riding on a yellow school bus A seat belt alone is not adequate for preschoolers on school buses The CSRS must be the right size for the child Height and weight limits are indicated on a label on the restraint A seat belt alone is not adequate for preschoolers on school buses New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 7 The law is different for small school vehicles vans and cars In a small school vehicle children under the age of eight must use a CSRS 13 2 2 Types of child restraints There are many types of child safety restraints Designs continually change and evolve Typical child safety restraints include e Rear facing infant seats Children less than one year old or weighing less than 20 pounds must ride in a rear facing infant seat on a school bus Children should stay rear facing as long as the seat height and weight limits allow Some newer seats go up to 35 pounds or more e Forward facing restraints Children at least more than one year old and weighing more than 20 pounds can ride in a forward facing car seat or other type of safety restraint e Integrated safety seats Some types of school bus seats have harnesses specifically designed for young children No other type of restraint is needed when transporting children in integrated safety seats e Safety vests Safety vests are available for all children
8. alk of the bus lap belt the shorter non adjustable portion of the belt with the female buckle at the end is too long it can be difficult to access it behind the car seat Long belt stalks make it harder to tighten the car seat The large buckle can also be uncomfortable for the child sitting in the seat It may help to twist the belt To shorten the belt slightly you may twist the stalk up to three times Do not alter a belt in any other way Never knot a belt to shorten it Do not connect two different belts Booster seats with built in harnesses are usually attached to a bus seat with securement belts that wrap around the seat back The lower cushion of the bus seat usually must be unfastened and lifted up to do this School bus cushions are often held in place by metal clips under the seat Clips can be difficult to access or release Don t be embarrassed to ask a supervisor an SBDI or a mechanic for help It s essential that the restraint is properly secured Before placing a child in the restraint double check to make sure it s properly secured in the bus seat If you have a bus attendant work as ateam Two sets of eyes are better than Make sure it s tight enough and correctly attached to the bus seat Once you are confident the restraint is tight enough in the bus seat secure the child in the restraint with the 5 point harness Harness straps on most restraints are adaptable to di
9. f young children s music media stores and large bookstores have a children s music section can often keep children occupied for much of the ride If your bus doesn t have one a basic CD player that runs on batteries can usually be purchased for a few dollars Be sure the CD player is secured appropriately e Helpers Most young children love being a helper Give them simple safe tasks like straightening seat belts before getting off the bus at school Like Tom Sawyer you might even be able to use simple bus chores as a reward for a child s good behavior during the ride e Restraints Section 12 2 below explains the laws covering the use of child restraints for preschoolers on a bus But beyond legal requirements New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 6 the fact is that young children behave better when restrained If young children are free to move from seat to seat they will Sooner or later mischief will ensue Preschoolers who have aged out and are no longer required by state law to use a child restraint still behave more safely when using a lap belt or a lap shoulder belt Seat belt use for school age children is not required on school buses in New York State It s up to local school policy Check with your supervisor about your school s policy regarding seat belt use for preschoolers who no longer require a car seat If you work consistently with you
10. fferent sizes of children Often there are two or more sets of slots through which the harness straps can be New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 9 threaded Make sure the harness straps are coming out of the right slots for that particular child On forward facing car seats the upper slots should be at or above the child s shoulders and should be in a reinforced slot On a rear facing seat the straps should be at or below the shoulders e The harness retaining clip should be positioned at the child s armpit level adjust it if necessary e Harness straps should be snug but not tight against the child Straps are adjustable but it can be tricky to figure out just how to do it Harness straps on older models might have to be adjusted from behind the restraint which can be highly inconvenient Newer restraints usually have a single adjuster strap located on the front base of the unit e Harness straps must lie flat against the child they shouldn t be twisted If you can pinch a loop of the belt between your fingers it is too loose In a crash or even a sudden stop a twisted strap could hurt a child e There is no way to secure a young child in a car seat or booster with built in harness without touching the child Be as brief and as sensitive as you can Whenever possible keep the back of your hand against the child s body rather than your palm it s a little less intrusive
11. getting up and down bus steps The first step up into the bus is especially tough Trips and falls are common Teach them to hold the handrail Remind them every day 13 3 2 Custody It s not safe to release preschool children from your bus unless a responsible adult or older child is present to receive them Anything could happen New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 10 If no one meets the bus at a preschooler s house keep the child on board Radio base to report the situation Often you will be directed to keep the child on board while your office tries to contact a parent Reassure the child that everything s okay If no one meets the bus at a preschooler s house keep the child on board radio base to report the Situation 13 4 Evacuation Concerns 13 4 1 Evacuation planning Having a plan for getting everyone off the bus quickly is essential when transporting young children A fire on a bus filled with preschoolers in safety restraints is a frightening prospect Such incidents have occurred in our state and across the country Buses can burn quickly under some conditions Heat and smoke can make the passenger compartment unsurvivable in two minutes or less 13 4 2 Preparing for two evacuation scenarios Most school bus fires are caused by either of two scenarios 1 An engine fire at the front of the bus 2 A fire at the rear of the bus caused by another vehicle crashing in
12. in a rear fire might be the quickest and safest way off the bus What s the best sequence for getting children out of the bus in each scenario It s best to get children closest to the fire out of their seats first and away from the smoke and heat However be careful about creating a bottleneck in the aisle as you shepherd children toward the best exit New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 11 e How will you keep children from wandering off once they re outside your bus Teach preschoolers ahead of time during bus drills and reinforced with periodic reminders to use a buddy system or to make a safety chain by holding hands as soon as they exit the bus You can practice this every day as children get off your bus to go into school Some preschool bus drivers carry a safety rope on the bus for young children to hang onto as they move away from the bus Placing the fire blanket on the ground in a safe area at a safe distance at least 3 bus lengths from the bus gives children a visible reference point Tell them to stay on the blanket Teach preschoolers to use a buddy system or to make a safety chain by holding hands as soon as they exit the bus in an emergency you can practice this every day as children get off your bus to go into school Discuss these important evacuation questions with your supervisor an SBDI or a veteran preschool driver when thinking about an evacuation
13. ld be fun to ride down the block on top of the tire Each of these hair curling examples actually happened in our state Given the chance preschool children will do just about anything Without close supervision by an adult or a responsible older child preschoolers will wander off as soon as they get off your bus They cannot be relied upon to go into their houses on their own Children under five need to be escorted on and off the bus This includes on school grounds and in bus loading areas New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 5 e Preschoolers are expert nappers A bus ride at the end of a long school day is like a rocking cradle for a young child Without the careful post check required by law it s easy to leave a sleeping preschooler on your bus It s happened many times in our state e A young child s ability to gauge traffic dangers is very limited Skills adults take for granted assessing how far away an approaching car is or how fast it s traveling are impossible for preschoolers This limitation is based in cognitive development and cannot be overcome through training and reinforcement Preschoolers are not ready to cross the road on their own Their brain s auditory processing has not developed to the point that they can accurately pinpoint the origin of a sound Their brain s visual processing cannot yet comprehend perspective For a young child a distant vehicle that
14. ng children day after day you will be surprised how much they learn about school bus safety over the course of the year e Safety Teaching preschoolers safety rules is important Most preschoolers want to learn Lessons should be simple short and fun Make a game of it Ask simple questions while waiting to discharge children at school in the morning Who can point to the closest emergency exit Who can tell me why you should stay in your seat Remind children to raise their hands so you can pick one at a time to answer If you work consistently with young children day after day you will be surprised how much they learn about school bus safety over the course of the year As the end of the year approaches prepare I m ready for the kindergarten bus certificates for your preschoolers who are about to graduate into kindergarten Create one of your own Be eta tt aa I m ready for my Es Kindergarten bus SAFETY CERTIFICATE Graduate aiT Bs iors ab os A ho hd or a Your patient efforts to train preschoolers in safety fundamentals will be appreciated by their new bus drivers next fall The safety training you provide at an early stage ina child s school career could one day save that child s life 13 2 Child Safety Restraints for Preschool Children on School Buses 13 2 1 Legal requirements In New York State all children under four years old must be
15. omis Peasono oii This page intentionally left blank New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 2 Acknowledgements We could not have prepared this curriculum without the ideas enthusiasm and guidance of the following people Marion Edick State Director of Pupil Transportation NYSED SBDI Advisory Committee Jim Brown Robert Brown Jason Burrick Jorge DeJesus Lorraine Misciagno Susan Soudant Faye Stevens Peter Brockmann Betty Hughes Patricia Martell Paul Mori Chuck Paquette Joseph Van Aken Patricia Bailey Lenny Bernstein chair Ted Finlayson Schueler Kathy Furneaux Peter Lawrence Peter Montalvo James Rogan and Maureen Ryan Safety Rules Curriculum Advisory Committee Lance Frieberger Cliff Berchtold Joe Van Aken Paul Mori Mike Dello Ioio Faye Waxman Robin Parks Teena Fitzroy Deanna Adams Peter Lawrence Deb Stevens Greg Jenne and Judy Clarke Moravia CSD School Bus Drivers Attendants and Mechanics Attendees at Syracuse focus group Tyronne Worrell Luther Everson Cindy Raulli Deb Lilley Deb Stevens Tammy Payne Chuck Paquette Barb Biddlecome Terri Kuss Shelly O Riley and Pat Bailey Attendees at Rochester focus group Peter Lawrence Michael Proukou and Kitty Rhow Lee Comeau retired author of the original 1989 Pre Service Course JE amp TFS June 2010 Title School Bus Driver Pre Service Course Trainee Manual Unit 13 Authors Jim Ellis and Ted Finlay
16. son Schueler Copyright June 30 2010 The University of the State of New York The New York State Education Department Office of Pupil Transportation Unit EBA Room 876 Albany NY 12234 0001 Phone 518 474 6541 e Fax 518 474 1983 New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 3 INTRODUCTION Welcome new New York State school bus driver The School Bus Driver Pre Service Course has one goal to prepare you to safely transport children on a school bus You are entering a proud profession New York State s school bus drivers have established an admirable safety record over the past generation Statistically New York s school buses represent the safest form of ground transportation ever devised Children riding in school buses are approximately 24 times safer than when they re riding in the family car However student safety is never assured Your responsibility for safety will be serious from the first day you drive a bus with children on board What you learn in this course can save a child s life This Trainee Manual will prepare you for the course Read it carefully before the course begins Complete the review questions at the end of each Unit before you come to class Write down any questions you have for your instructor If you don t understand something say so Asking questions is one sign of a professional Again welcome to our New York State school bus safety community Marion Edick Ne
17. to it Factors to consider when creating an evacuation plan for a preschool run include e Is an attendant assigned to the run The attendant s role in an emergency evacuation of preschool children should be defined In most cases it makes sense for the attendant to exit the bus first to receive the children as the driver removes them from their restraints However on preschool runs with more than six children on board the attendant might need to help remove them from their restraints too Work this out ahead of time with your attendant In most cases the quickest way to get a young child out of the bus in an emergency is to remove the child from the restraint This can be accomplished by unbuckling the restraint or by cutting the straps with a seat belt cutter Decide ahead of time what s best for each particular child and each restraint For a very young or small child it may be faster to leave the child in the car seat and remove the child and car seat together This can be accomplished by cutting the belts that secure the car seat to the bus Decide ahead of time what s quickest for each child on your run How many exits are there on your bus what types of exits are they and where are they located Think carefully about which exit s would be best for each scenario Can you find and open each exit with your eyes closed Thick smoke could make it impossible to see Don t forget the passenger door which
18. utter near the rear door is a good idea New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 14 13 5 Unit 13 Review 1 TRUE or FALSE The vision and hearing of preschool children is so good they can usually get out of the way of an approaching vehicle before an adult can 2 TRUE or FALSE Children under five need to be escorted on and off the bus 3 What type of booster seat may be used on a school bus 4 TRUE or FALSE Sit unrestrained passengers in the row behind children in safety vests 5 Where should the harness retaining clip be located a At the child s navel level b At the child s armpit level c At the child s chin level d Retaining clips are not required on harnesses 6 If you need to shorten the lap belt slightly to better secure a car seat which method is acceptable a Tie one or more knots in the belt b Twist the belt as much as necessary c Twist the belt no more than three times d Use a large safety pin to shorten the belt 7 TRUE or FALSE On forward facing car seats the upper harness slots should be below the child s shoulders 8 TRUE or FALSE If no one meets the bus at a preschooler s house tell the child to wait on the porch until someone gets home 9 What s a seat belt stalk fet Longer adjustable male portion of the lap belt b Shorter non adjustable female portion of the lap belt
19. w York State Education Department State Director of Pupil Transportation New York State School Bus Driver Pre Service Manual Unit 13 p 4 OPTIONAL UNIT 13 TRANSPORTING PRESCHOOL STUDENTS Unit 13 Topics 13 1 Understanding the Preschool Child 13 2 Restraints for Preschool Children on School Buses 13 3 Loading and Unloading Preschool Children 13 4 Evacuation Concerns 13 5 Unit 12 Review Introduction Transporting preschoolers on a school bus can be delightful but it can also be challenging Their impulsiveness and their limited mental development combined with their small stature make safety at the bus stop and during the bus ride a real test of adult skills and patience 13 1 Understanding the Preschool Child 13 1 1 Characteristics and challenges Some of the reasons preschool aged children are challenging to transport on a school bus include A preschooler might climb into the rear wheelwell because he thought it would be fun to ride down the block on top of the tire It s happened Young children are extremely unpredictable They are easily distracted and their attention spans are fleeting A four year old could suddenly bolt toward your bus as she sees it approaching her stop A young child might crawl underneath your stopped bus to retrieve a treasured item chase a family pet or see how the bus works A preschooler might even climb into the rear wheelwell because he thought it wou
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