Attendees at last month’s NAPT Summit in Memphis, Tenn., received DVDs from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that provides an overview of training on how to properly secure young children on school buses.
Student transporters may order up to five copies of the DVD online. Larger orders may be placed via email. The DVD was finalized last year and posted on the NAPT website, DVD hard copies became available in September. The video was filmed in October 2010.
It was produced in both English and Spanish and covers and introduction to child safety restraint systems, or CSRS, as well as the basics of using the correct size of car seat based on the student’s size, correct seating of students in either forward- or rear-facing seats or in vests, correct harness to shoulder position and the correct use of straps.
The video also covers CSRS selection, direction, location and installation, and it demonstrates the proper placement of children in a CSRS.
Children under the age of 1 years old, for example, should always be secured in rear-facing car seats that fit safely on existing bus seats. NHTSA says that children should remain in rear-facing seats as long as they fit comfortably and are within the height and weight requirements. Older students who weigh more and are taller should be secured in forward-facing seats.
Another video chapters cover safety vests, which are designed for children who are older than 1 years old, weigh more than 20 pounds and are able to sit up by themselves in the bus seat. Students wearing vests are always forward-facing, and the vests require cam wraps, so the seat behind should remain empty or only include a properly secure student or adult rider. NHTSA reminds that the vest needs to be secured to the cam wrap a the child’s hips and shoulders.
