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School Bus Stabilization & Extrication
Developed byFF Jon M. GrazianiMaple Valley Fire & Life Safety
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School Bus Statistics
Each year, school buses provide an estimated 10 billion student trips in the United States.
Every school day, 475,000 school buses transport 25 million children to and from schools and school-related activities.
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A little “History”
The first school bus was horse-drawn, introduced in 1827 by George Shillibeer, it was designed to carry 25 children.
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Statistics
Over the past 11 years school buses have annually averaged 26,000 crashes, resulting in 10 fatalities: 25% were drivers, 75% were passengers – National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
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School Bus Occupant Hazards
Most school bus fatalities occur outside the bus during loading and unloading of children.
Most school bus injuries occur inside the school bus, 2/3 of the injuries are minor – patients were not properly positioned inside the seating area.
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School Bus Hazards
Most fatalities and accidents occur in the afternoon and mid-year; students and drivers aren’t thinking about a “school bus”, they’re usually thinking about what they will do when they get home. Most fatalities occur between December and May of each year. – State education department.
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Scene Control
School bus crashes are extremely difficult, even for the seasoned veteran. Will draw enormous attention
Students with cell phones will call parents, relatives or friends
All of which will race to the scene frantic and worried
News media will attempt to get pictures and stories
As the clock ticks more and more people will be notified of the incident To deal with these people request law
enforcement for traffic control and restrict access to unnecessary individuals
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Scene Control
Set up a Staging area for Parents, Media, School Representatives Assign a PIO
Manage the Victims Follow Zone 3 MCI protocols
Establish Pre-determined response so decisions aren’t made by the seat of your pants Fire Department & EMS Local School Representatives Law Enforcement
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Component Hazards
School buses pose the same hazards as most vehicles on the roadway today Size & Mass alone is a
hazard to all working on/in/around a not properly stabilized vehicle
Fires Dense toxic fumes due to
the use of flammable materials in seats.
Access Narrow aisle ways.
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School Bus Systems
Similar to other vehicles, School buses have batteries, fuel systems, air bags and seat belts.
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Storage Compartments
Built around the chassis Provides “false” support
system for struts & cribbing
Light gauge steel / NO structural support
Accessed from both sides “What’s inside the storage
compartment?”
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Battery Access
Rear Drivers-Side Compartment 3-6 batteries Slide tray Terminate “Negative”
Disconnect (or) Double Cut Follow Dept Procedures
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Engine Access
All “cab-over” buses have engines mounted in the rear of the bus
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Fuel Systems
Fuel systems vary Diesel Gas Butane Propane Natural Gas Hybrid
Be aware of the various fuel systems, be prepared to contain fuel spillage
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Safety Features
On-board Fire Extinguishers
Emergency Escape Windows & Roof Hatches
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School Bus Access
The weakest to strongest parts of a school bus are as follows and should be considered as you gain access:1.Windows2. Windshield3. Doors4. The structure itself
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Access
Gaining access to the Cab can be simple to complex “Try before you Pry” Conscious driver, “ask them to
open the door” Emergency Exits
Windows, Doors, and/or Roof hatches
Unconscious, utilize a pike pole through door window
The goal is to find a way “IN” and a way “OUT”
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Access Issues
Resting on its wheels Emergency Exits
Resting on its side Remove front window as the Entry
Point Remove rear window as the Egress
Point Best operation is to operate the locking
mechanism from the inside Totally remove the door
Resting on its top Remove windows and exit doors
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Window Removal
Remove two windows and the post to create a large access/egress point for rescuers and victims
The window frame can be removed with a screw driver, window punch or hydraulic cutters Laminated Glass on Windshield Remove the rubber seal from
window frame to pull windshield out intact
Tempered Glass on sides
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Making a door from a window
Once the glass is removed, utilize the cutters or reciprocating saw Determine the size of
the opening Cut away the pillars Cut down to the floor
board
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Stabilization
School buses are large vehicles weighing up to and in excess of 12 tons. Overall Size: Height and Weight Requires a large amount of cribbing Box cribbing will eventually distribute the
weight Struts prevent horizontal movement
Their size creates stabilization obstacles not normally dealt with in passenger vehicles
Any shifting can harm rescuers and victims Be aware of surroundings, identify a way
out if conditions change
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Stabilization Concerns
Traditional Stabilization techniques Chock the wheels Terminate electrical system Set Airbrake Turn OFF ignition Do NOT deflate tires
6 or more inches of downward movement on one side may cause a drastic tilt
Bus may not be totaled and will need to be moved or towed
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Stabilization Basics
Utilizing Stabilization Struts Remove compartment door
(s) for proper anchoring point You must find a “safe” &
“solid” anchoring point The “black” band is a safe
anchoring point
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Stabilization Basics
If you choose to utilize box cribbing you must gain access to the frame rails
Standard to Large dimensional lumber will be required
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Extrication Tools
The tools needed for bus extrication operations are carried on most fire engines The reciprocating saw is an
excellent tool, it is light weight, smaller, allowing firefighters to cut overhead and in tight spaces
Allows for quick work, electric powered are more reliable then battery powered
Require 25+ replacement blades
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Extrication Tools
Tools and equipment that may be needed: Axes, Sledgehammers, Pry bars,
Pike Poles, Utility Knives Hydraulic Spreaders/Cutters/Ram Cribbing (standard and large
dimensional lumber) Struts Lifting Airbags Air Chisels PERSONNEL
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Bus Vs. Vehicle “Under-Ride”
“Tunneling” Operations are labor intensive and time consumingThe bus must be
properly stabilized/to include suspension
The vehicle must be stabilized / strap suspension to gain additional work space
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Bus Vs. Vehicle “T-Bone”
Perform all standard stabilization procedures before extrication operations begin
Due to the height of a bus most accidents will be “under-ride” accidents that require some form of “tunneling” procedure
Depending on patient location extrication procedures can be simple to technical
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Rear Access
Similar to a third door conversion on an “extended” cab vehicle: Cut the top pillar Make a relief cut and
or cut the remainder of the paneling away with the cutters or Reciprocating saw Reciprocating saw is
the preferred tool
Photo’s courtesy of Brian Craig photography
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Roof Removal
Roof construction consists of two layers of metal separated by insulation
Time consuming if correct tools are not utilized Circular saw
Plunge blade deep enough to cut through both layers of metal and bracings
Reciprocating saw Have extra blades on hand
Air chisel Have extra SCBA bottles
available
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Seat Removal
Once access is gained to the seat and floor board the hydraulic cutters or spreaders can be utilized to remove the seat mounts from the floor board: Place the tips of the spreaders
between the floorboard and mounting brackets and “pop” the seats from the floor
Place the cutting blades at the lowest point on the mounting brackets, then cut through the light gauge steel
Photo’s courtesy of Brian Craig photography
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School Bus Fires
Traditional “vehicle” fire tactics should be used Fuel Tanks are major hazard
Up to 100 gallons of diesel Greater than 55 gallons is
considered a Hazardous Material Plastic fuel tanks mounted under
the chassis Major fuel spill hazards
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Suppression Operations
Follow all vehicle fire suppression tactics Conventional Cab / Front mounted
engine Cab-Over / Rear mounted engine
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The END
There is a great deal to learn about school buses and the challenges posed at a crash scene.
Training & Preplanned coordination between fire & emergency services and local school transportation representatives can lead to a more effective and efficient operation
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References:
Paul Hasenmeier, City of Huron Fire Department Tom Kiurski, Livonia MI Fire & Rescue Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Brian Livingston, LN Curtis