Bus drivers to learn life-saving tips as first day of school approaches
School districts around Western Washington are gearing up for the first day of classes.
The first day of school for the Bellevue School District is Sept. 1, and this year bus drivers are learning some potentially life-saving tips they may need in the event of an emergency.
First day of school for @TheBSD405 is Sept. 1st. This year bus drivers are learning some potentially life-saving tips they may need in the event of an emergency. Full story coming up in about 10 minutes on @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/4N2OVbnrqL
— Briseida Holguin (@BriseidaHolguin) August 24, 2022
“Today we’re providing life safety training for bus drivers, everything from wound packing, application of tourniquets, and how to stop uncontrolled bleeding to personal preparedness, fire safety and suppression and the evacuation of injured individuals off of buses,” said Douglas James, director of security at BSD.
James says tourniquets have been available in schools for the last several years, but this year all buses will also be equipped with this important tool.
“I view myself as a first line, every student that comes onboard with a backpack, every backpack could have a weapon, a knife, a gun, it’s up to me to ensure those don’t come on the bus and they don’t come to the school,” said Ty Boulanger, a bus driver for BSD.
Boulanger, who has been a driver with the district for over five years, says this training is critical.
“It is something bus drivers advocated for, and I myself have not had that issue but in the district, we’ve had some unfortunate accidents that required first aid so these will be helpful,” said Boulanger.
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The district says that when it comes to the bus driver shortage, it is doing better than other districts, and it will be ready for the first day of school.
“So right now currently we have 93 bus drivers, we would really love to have about 10-15 more, so we’re out there recruiting,” said Don Dixon, director of transportation for the district.
The district is offering a $1,000 sign-on bonus, and a retention bonus after a certain number of years.
“So ever since the beginning of COVID is when we really felt it, we lost about a third of our driving force due to COVID,” said Dixon.
All bus route information is on the district’s website. You can find times, as well as maps and alternative transportation methods.
