By Leigh T. Hollins
When we think of school buses, we think of bright yellow vehicles that safely transport America’s children to school each day. Although this is an accurate appraisal most of the time, when things go wrong (and they do), emergency responders need to be prepared for the situations they will encounter. That’s why technical knowledge is so vital when you are faced with an incident involving a school bus.
The various agencies that track transportation accidents and injuries rate school buses as one of the safest forms of transportation available, much safer than traveling by car. However, when incidents do occur, they tend to draw a lot of attention, with major school bus incidents making national news. Statistics vary, but the following is a general indication of the potential that responders face in the United States:
- There are 450,000 school buses in service.
- More than 25 million students ride school buses daily.
- School buses travel 2 million miles every school day.
- There are 16,000 school bus collisions annually.
- There are 12,000 injuries and 130 deaths involving school buses annually.
These figures are only those reported, as required, by public and private school bus transportation providers. Not included in the statistics are the tens of thousands of school buses that have been converted by church groups, civic groups, recreational providers, canoe and rafting outfitters, private individuals, and the multitudes of other users.
Whether it is painted the familiar yellow or not, the bus will have the same general construction features with which it came off the assembly line, and it will still act the same when it rolls down an embankment or is broad-sided by a semi.
Do not be fooled into thinking that the potential only exists during school months and school days. School buses are on the road every day of the week, every hour of the day and night, on virtually every road in America and during every weather condition.
The problems presented to emergency responders when dealing with school buses are many. One of the problems is the extra heavy-duty school bus construction. Compared to today’s cars and trucks of lighter and alternate materials (such as fiberglass, composites and aluminum) the school bus is still built like a tank. Basic extrication knowledge and equipment is not enough when dealing with a major collision involving a school bus. You will need a wide array of extrication equipment at your disposal to allow various options for cutting, spreading, and displacing the extra-strong components from which school buses are constructed. These tools include a full set of hydraulic extrication tools, reciprocating saws and air chisels.
Driver training and bus maintenance can also be contributing factors to school bus accidents. All student transportation providers, whether public or private, are required to meet licensing, training, and maintenance requirements that have been set by the federal government and may be enhanced by local or state law. Many accidents and collisions are no doubt prevented due to these requirements. The problem is that once these transportation providers sell or donate a bus to the local church, pre-school, or canoe outfitter, these laws are no longer in effect. If we compare a school bus that drops kids off at the local public school to one that is being used privately, chances are you will see a major difference in the overall condition of the bus, as well as less stringent driver licensing requirements. This will increase the potential for an accident.
While it is a great benefit for those riding in the bus, when a major collision does occur, it is extremely difficult to displace the strong metal and components during extrication procedures employing techniques used on small passenger vehicles. Remember, responders who may be well trained and experienced at car and light truck extrication techniques will be confronted with a much different challenge at a school bus incident.
Leigh T. Hollins began his career in 1976 in New Jersey. He currently serves as a battalion chief with Cedar Hammock (FL) Fire Rescue and is co-owner of Starfire Training Systems Inc. in Manatee County, Florida. He has a degree in fire science and is the author of numerous fire-related articles, a frequent presenter at the FDIC, a lead instructor for the FDIC’s Hands-On Training program, and a member of the Fire Engineering editorial advisory board and FDIC educational committee. He is author of School Bus Extrication available from Fire Engineering Books and Videos.
