Bus drivers practice extinguishing skills
October 5, 2009
Wentzville, MO
October is National Fire Prevention Month, and the Wentzville School District Transportation Department used the opportunity to remind bus drivers about proper fire extinguisher procedures.
With the help of the Wentzville Fire Department, drivers had a chance to put their training to use and try their hand at putting out a real fire.
“People do training all of the time, but talking about putting out a fire is a lot different than actually doing it once you’re confronted with the smoke and flames,” said Firefighter/EMT Mark Dwyer.
He instructed drivers to remember PASS when using an extinguisher: Pull the pin; Aim at the base of the fire; Squeeze the lever; and Sweep with a side to side motion. He also suggested that drivers “fluff,” or shake up their extinguishers regularly to keep the contents mixed and prevent settling. When the class moved outside, individuals had the opportunity to apply what they had learned.
Firefighters set a pan of kerosene on fire, and drivers used bus fire extinguishers to put out the fire. After watching fellow drivers douse the flames, Pat Okai said, “I believe that teaching the proper procedures is going to increase the chances of our students and drivers escaping injury in an actual fire.”
Director of Transportation, Jennifer Simpson, conducts a monthly transportation safety meeting to insure that these types of important topics are never over-looked. Every school bus used by the Wentzville School District is equipped with a multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher that is effective on several different types of fires.
“Hopefully a driver will never have to use it,” said Transportation Safety Coordinator, Charles McKissick, “but if they ever do, they’ll know what needs to be done.”
The Wentzville School District owns and operates 132 buses and has over 150 employees in the Transportation Department. Wentzville School District buses are inspected thoroughly three times a year in accordance with guidelines established by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Districts who achieve a minimum score of 90% qualify for the State Fleet Excellence Award, and the Wentzville School District has achieved this award for the past nine years.
From the Wentzville School District
Copyright 2009 Neighbors About Town
