School Bus Safety Training: A safe bet toward keeping kids safe - continued
Original story title, "School Bus Safety Training: A safe bet toward keeping kids safe, first published in the SEPT. 2005 Issue of 2safeschools Front Page, Copyright �2005, All Rights Reserved.
By James Kraemer, �2005, All Rights Reserved.
May be reprinted with permission from 2safeschools.
Page 2, continued - Capturing Kids Attention
Durabrand's PVS223 DVD Player includes secure mounting hardware.
Size: About 6.25"W x 7.25"H x 3"D
Weight: About 1 lb 13 oz
Discount: About $100 | Durabrand (ALCO Electronics, Inc.) offers a lightweight and compact portable DVD player. A strong mounting strap (included) is fed through the metal rods on the back of the player to secure it to the bus driver's headrest. Durabrand's model PVS223 features a crisp five-inch TFT LCD screen that tilts. The device plays standard and three-inch DVD disks and most finalized DVD R/RW, CD R/RW, music CD and JPEG CD disks. It comes with a small remote control, built-in stereo speakers, a stereo headphone jack, RCA video and stereo out jacks, a digital out jack, car power adapter, AC adapter and mounting accessories. If needed a 9-volt power pack (not included) is available at many electronic stores.
Handheld Video Players
Students can watch videos about safe behavior while other students board the school bus and while riding the bus to and from school. |
Another option on the bus are the new hand-held video players. Prices are coming down on these devices, making the possibility for an excellent training tool on the school bus. A child can hold the small player in one hand and watch school bus safety videos during the ride. These players are about the size of a Gameboy, or smaller and feature a bright 2.5" to 3.5" LCD screen. MPG, MOV, WMV, or RM format files are loaded and stored through a USP port from your computer or from a VCR, etc., through a simple adapter usually included. These units often include one or two headphones and a rechargeable battery that lasts 2.5 to 3 or so hours before needing a recharge. An AC adapter and a car adapter may also be included.
Please Note: It is probably unwise and may be a safety violation to attach a DVD player to the back of a passenger seat, depending on local and state regulations. It may be possible to safely secure this device to the back of the driver's Captain's seat, or on the upper panel at the front of the bus near the bus video camera. Would suggest bus driver's wanting to provide this training approach on their buses, begin the approval process with a copy of this article and by showing the Transportation Director a DVD video playing in the device. Installation issues should be considered and 'overcoming objections' well studied:
For example, a simple cartoon, not relevant to school bus safety might get a parent's complaint - "I do not want that bus driver showing my child a video of a Coyote trying to murder a Roadrunner!". TV shows like "The Simpsons" should be an obvious "NO CAN DO" on the school bus.
Sticking to videos on school bus safety, bike safety and the like, is one answer toward overcoming this objection.
Do not assume there would be no issues. Be ready with good information.
More School Bus Safety Tips: Involve The Parents
More Videos
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Top: Scene From PTA's - Be Cool, Follow The Rules. (15 min.)
Middle: Scene from KARE 11 TV's Video - Ride The Bus. (8.5 min.)
Bottom: Scene from Superior Coach Corp. - Special Delivery, made in the early 60's. (25 min.)
| One of the most effective ways to encourage children of all ages to follow the bus driver's directions is for school staff to frequent the buses with a demonstrated positive, respectful attitude toward the bus drivers. Children pickup adult-to-adult interaction with the bus driver, often having a dramatic effect on children's behavior toward their bus driver.
Spot checks are effective. Check with the bus drivers on occasion, every day perhaps the first week of school when the buses arrive at school, or a few minutes prior to the students usual board-time in the afternoon. Where a problem is presented avoid dealing with the child on the school bus - school staff excersizing authority on the bus can have an unwanted effect on the driver's authority with the kids. First, remove the child from the bus, deal with the issue, then return the child to the bus. In cases where the child is not present at the moment, ask the bus driver (not tell the driver) how you can help with improving the child's behavior. (Your school's bus driver's, of course, must be at least able to describe the behavior that is interferring with the bus environment, as well as given effective support when they ask for help.)
Every school year, and throughout the year, a simple flier that helps parents become experts in school bus and bus stop safety can be handed out on the route or whenever meeting a parent in the store or at school. Works wonderfully when you help make the parent an expert BEFORE a problem arises with their child. Here's a link to school bus paper cutouts. A photo/text editor can add various safety instructions to the flier, printed out and given to kids to show their parents.
If you have a DVD player on the bus, you could offer kids a school bus safety certificate to take home and frame after they have watched a safety video and successfully answered your questions. A variety of inexpensive and attractive standard certificate frames are available these days and could be included with the certificate as an extra bonus.
Older students are often more willing to watch elementary school age videos with younger aged children when they are prepped beforehand as important bus safety advisers to younger children.
More schools are returning to training their bus drivers to call the parent before an issue with a child leads to a bus ticket. This option, made good use of, can reduce violations substantially, as well as build great relationships with most parents. Parents usually appreciate knowing about any issues on the bus with their child and before things get out of hand.
Make the parents and kids experts in school bus safety and watch the violations drop off drastically. (jk)
Buster the School Bus - A tool for teaching the important lessons on school bus safety.
School Bus Evacuation Training - You Got Less Than Three Minutes!
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