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skoolbus
Senior Member
USA
87 Posts |
 Posted - 08/05/2003 : 08:26:20 AM
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Just thought I would throw this out and see what comes back...
I am getting ready to prepare accident packets for each of our drivers to keep in their buses in case of an accident. We have been doing this for many, many years, so it is nothing new. Here is my concern: we have been putting all the necessary paperwork, forms, yellow chalk, etc.. in big manila envelopes and in my opinion that is just not working out. The stuff gets dusty, dried out, wet or what have you. I was thinking of a sturdy plastic zippered pouch to put these items in. This would be more protected, easier to handle and be more professional.
Does anyone know a company that has these cheap or gives them out as comps?
Can't hurt to ask.
Thanks in advance!  |
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KMM
Advanced Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2003 : 3:44:27 PM
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As for the tools used in accident investigation, such as the chalk, I believe that part should be left to the official law enforcement authorities investigating the accident.
Supplies carried on board, besides the first aid kit and body fluid kit, we also carry the occupant section of the traffic crash forms to fill out each passengers personal information and information in reguards to where the injured are transported to. In Ohio, this form is the (OH-1-P) Traffic Crash Report - Occupant Addendom.
Other than this, the other forms are to be filled out by the school administration and by the investigating official. |
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skoolbus
Senior Member
USA
87 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2003 : 07:31:17 AM
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Thanks, MLK I'll check into that.
KMM, the yellow traffic chalk is used to mark the bus tire position in the event that we need to move the bus out of traffic before the authorities arrive. Also we do not give out the children's (passengers) personal information to anyone, authorities included. That is considered to be private and is up to the proper authorities, in this case the California Highway Patrol, to collect should they need it for their report. The only private info we give them is names and ages of any injured passengers. Most times we have the scene controlled and the passengers safely transported to another bus and on their way before the CHP arrives on the scene. Of course most of our accidents are very minor thankfully.
My original question was regarding the packet to carry the materials in and not the materials themselves. |
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80-RE4
Top Member
USA
5700 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2003 : 09:44:43 AM
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On our buses, we have a plastic pouch that is drilled into the wall, with a zipper ( that never closes). Inside is the registration, and SUPPOSED to be a packet that says "what to do in case of an accident". They are manilla packets, sort of like the size that a high school report card would come in. On the front cover they have "what steps to follow if an accident occurred"
ALL buses are supposed to carry them. There are some, that don't, even though they are made freely available in the office by the dozen.
I think a pouch would be a good idea, as long as there was space, and it would also be easily visible. |
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KMM
Advanced Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2003 : 2:22:18 PM
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skoolbus,
All information that is asked for on the traffic crash report is name, age, sex, address, and if injured - where they were transported to. This is a State Form which is required information in the event of a traffic crash and becomes a "public document" once filed. Access to the information is limited to the persons involved and their legal representitive. Also the insurence company. The information is required by law in an accident. It is not the school district or the drivers choice to with hold this information from the report.
I would NEVER move the bus until advised by the investigating officer to do so. No matter how busy the traffic or how much traffic is backed up. If the bus accident is in your opinion at a unsafe location then you evacuate the passengers off the bus and move them to a safe location. The hell with the bus! Moving the bus only contaminates the accident scene which may have been critical in the officer's investigation. Besides, maybe the damage to the bus could be dangerous or harmful to the passengers or other motorists if the driver attempts to move it. Protecting the scene is now your priority. Leave everything else up to the law enforcement officer and school administration. Remember, later on someone may try to bring a lawsuit up on the driver. If the lawyer representing the child would ask if you altered the accident scene by moving your vehicle after the point of rest following the impact, you would have to say "yes". This could cost you a lot of money.
Bottom line, leave the accident scene alone.
Ohio Revised Code, Section 4509.10 - Use of Report
The accident report submitted shall be without prejudice to the person reporting and shall be for the confidentual use of the registar of motor vehicles, except the registrar shall furnish a copy of such report to any person who claims to have injury or damage in a motor vehicle accident, or his attorney.
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skoolbus
Senior Member
USA
87 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2003 : 06:50:38 AM
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KMM,
I really appreciate your input, but I am in California not Ohio. Our laws are different. The gathering of personal information is the job of the CHP and due to privacy issues we do not provide students' personal information on a routine basis to them. They are provided with the name of the school that the children attend and if they feel it is necessary they can contact the school for any pertinent information. The CHP understands that and we understand that.
As for moving the bus after an accident, I will have to respectfully disagree with you. As a Transportation Supervisor, my job is to keep the students and the driver safe at all times and above all else. I will not evacuate students in an unsafe location. I will mark the position of the bus tires and move the bus to safety if it is possible. This is much more efficient and much safer. Obviously, if vehicles are entangled, people are injured, etc...this does not apply. Like I stated earlier, 99% of our accidents are relatively minor. I will not jeopordize student/driver safety by allowing a bus that has been involved in a minor rear-end accident, to sit out in busy traffic. Nor will I evacuate students from that same bus into the middle of a busy street while another bus similarly blocks traffic, out of concern for "contaminating" an accident scene. That is what the traffic chalk and the Polaroid camera are for. To document the vehicle position before moving the vehicle.
Again, I repeat, I will never jeopordize the safety of the students or my driver out of fear of the possibility of a lawsuit. My job is to protect and keep safe the students, and my district will back and protect me 100% if I do my job properly.
Now, KMM you see the reason that I emphasized in my earlier posts that my inquiry was limited to the type of pouches that are out there to hold the accident packets, and not the contents of the packet or the reason for such contents. That is not up for debate.
One challenge in these forums is that we all come from different areas, with varying laws, measures and policies. That is great because it allows us to glimpse school bus life through different eyes. But we must rememeber that dependent upon what state we work in, whether we are in rural or urban territory, how large or small our company or district is, we work under a wide array of conditions and so it is impossible to advise each other in certain areas of school bus life. It is not that I don't respect your right to your own opinion about accident procedures, its just that they don't apply to me.
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macondriver
Top Member
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2003 : 4:15:53 PM
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oh this is easy......put them in large 2 gallon ziplock bags,,,,freezer bages are stronger.......but this will keep them clean , dry and ready.
you can find them at walmart, cubs, sams almost any store.... |
Driving my way to the top, in a big yellow bus...and proud of it. |
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isngcntry
Senior Member
USA
67 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2003 : 06:34:39 AM
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| In my company, we put all the required forms in an envelope and store it in the first aid kit. This way the packet remains undamaged until it is ready to be used. |
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Accident packets...
