Demonstrating the level of collaboration that is happening more and more frequently nationwide, a Durham School Services location about 7 miles south of the Chicago and Wisconsin border partnered with emergency personnel from three local cities to conduct an evacuation training drill in response to a fatal bus crash last month.
The April 5 crash was reportedly caused by a Jeep Wrangler that ran a red light and struck the school bus, knocking it on its right side and onto another vehicle. Thirty-four elementary students were on board, and 28 were sent to a local hospital for treatment of minor cuts and bruises. A man driving the Jeep Wrangelr that struck the bus died, and two passengers of the other vehicle were injured.
“Following the tragic accident involving our school bus near Wadsworth, my team was proud to show the level of training required for each of them to be certified to drive a school bus,” said Rita Maki, general manager of Durham’s contract. “They take their jobs very seriously and appreciate the chance to train others on their equipment in the event it helps a student one day.”
Maki’s staff trained with first responders from Newport Township, Beach Park and Zion on five different styles of school buses and how each emergency exit door and roof hatch works. They also learned how the wheelchair lift operates in manual mode in the event of a loss of power. Durham said several of the emergency crew had never before been on a school bus.
Newport Township Fire Lt. Jeff Fanning, head of the first responders, commended the bus company for the training it provides its employees, and thanked the Durham team in Beach Park for sharing its knowledge and experience.
“Everyone here realizes there is a lot more to your jobs than just driving a bus,” he told the bus drivers. “Although we hope we will never need to utilize these skills, the first responders who participated are certainly better equipped to assist in an emergency involving a school bus.”
Editor’s note — Read a magazine article this month from firefighter/paramedic Paul Hasenmeier that oulines the collaboration effort between rescuerrs and school bus personnel. Hasenmeier is also a presenter this summer at the STN EXPO on similar topics.
