LOADING AND UNLOADING
RESPONSIBILITIES |
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- School bus driver
- The school bus driver is the person who loads the student
onto the school bus at the site, both pick up and school. At the
destination, the school bus driver unloads the student.
- In some school districts, there is a monitor who is
responsible for loading and unloading. Make sure that you know
exactly who should receive the student in both places.
- Parent or caregiver
- Before school, the parent/caregiver makes sure that the
student is at the curb on time with or in proper equipment. The
parent/caregiver supervises the student until the school bus
arrives.
- After school, the parent or caregiver meets the student at
the curb on time.
- A parent or caregiver may want to (or be required to) help
with loading (helping the student onto the bus or fastening the
seat belt or wheelchair positioning belt). It is still the
responsibility of the school bus driver to recheck and make sure
the wheelchair and the student are properly secured before
moving the school bus.
- Teacher
- The teacher’s responsibilities are usually similar to those
of the parent or caregiver: to meet the student upon arrival at
school and to have the student at the pick-up site on time and
supervise the student until the school bus arrives.
- Bus attendant
- Sometimes another adult assists the school bus driver. These
people may be called aides, attendants, or monitors.
- The attendant may be assigned to help all students or one
particular student.
- While on the bus, the attendant is usually under the
authority of the school bus driver.
LOADING AND UNLOADING WITH A WHEELCHAIR
LIFT |
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- General guidelines when the student is on the lift platform
- The student always faces away from the school bus.
- The wheelchair brakes are locked.
- The roll stops must be in the completely “up” position.
- Loading and unloading process
- Open and secure the lift door.
- Use the hand-held control to activate the unfolding of the
platform.
- Lower the platform until it rests entirely on the ground.
- Unfold the outboard roll stop.
- Fasten the wheelchair seat belt around the student.
- Back the student onto the lift. Always face the student away
from the school bus.
NOTE: To unload a student with a
motorized wheelchair
- The student should NOT drive onto the lift unless cleared
to do so by the entire IEP team.
- Disengage the motor and push the chair onto the platform
manually.
- Consult with a parent/caregiver or a therapist about how
to secure the chair on the lift.
- Lock the wheelchair brakes.
- Make sure the roll stops are in the completely “up”
position.
- Turn off the wheelchair power. In some cases, the motor must
be disengaged to secure the wheelchair. Ask the parent/caregiver
or therapist for guidance.
- Have the student hold onto the handrails if able.
- Tell the student to keep arms and legs within the lift area
and clear of moving parts.
- Operate the lift controls. Stand next to the platform at the
front corner. Keep one hand on the wheelchair as it is raised
and operate the controls with the other hand.
- When the platform reaches floor level, set down or hang up
the controls.
- Release the wheelchair brakes and push the wheelchair into
the bus.
- Set the wheelchair brakes.
- Fold the lift into the travel position.
- Position the student according to the IEP. Either transfer
the student to a regular forward facing school bus seat using
proper lifting techniques or secure the wheelchair and the
student.
See Handout
#8 (Emergency Situations) for proper lifting techniques.
When loading and unloading, remember: Tell
the student what you are going to do before you do it.
FMVSS 222 SECUREMENT SYSTEM |
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- A 7-point system: 4 points to secure the wheelchair; 3 points
to secure the student:
The shoulder belt MUST be attached
to the vehicle. The lap belt can be attached to the wheelchair
4-point system or to the vehicle.
- Wheelchair must be forward-facing
- The securement system is designed to be used with the
wheelchair facing forward and is tested that way. All new school
buses manufactured with wheelchair securement systems since
January 1994 have forward-facing systems.
- Wheelchair securement positions are inherently safer and
wheelchairs and the human body are better capable of surviving a
frontal crash when facing forward.
- Sled tests show that side facing wheelchairs are unstable
and often collapse.
- Lap and shoulder belt restraint systems are designed to be
most effective in the frontal impact position (most common fatal
collisions type for school buses) and wheelchairs are believed
to be stronger in frontal loading conditions as opposed to side
loading positions.
![diagram of how to securely strap a wheelchair with a person onto a bus](In-Service Safety Series - Transporting Students With Special Needs_files/secure.gif)
WHERE TO ANCHOR THE WHEELCHAIR |
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- Use the securement system in the school buses in your school
district.
- CAUTION:
- Do not jerry-rig a securement for a wheelchair.
- Only use a 4-point tie-down system with a separate restraint
for the occupant. At a minimum, the front straps must be the
same type and the back straps must be the same type.
- Don’t interchange systems. Use only one manufacturer’s
tie-down system for each wheelchair.
- Never place a wheelchair in front of an emergency exit door,
even if the wheelchair securement position is provided at such a
location.
SECURING THE WHEELCHAIR |
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- First, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the particular
wheelchair and for your system. If you don’t have the
manufacturer’s instructions, ask for them.
- Center the wheelchair with the anchorages on the floor. Leave
room for the rear belt to be secured at a 45-degree angle from the
floor.
- Set the wheelchair brakes on both sides.
- Turn off the wheelchair power.
- Attach the wheelchair straps to the wheelchair at 4 points.
- Attach the straps along the wall first.
- Then attach the straps along the aisle.
- Attach the straps properly.
- Do not attach the straps to the wheels or any detachable
portion of the wheelchair.
- Don’t let the straps bend around any object. they should
have a clear path from the floor to the wheelchair frame.
- Keep the straps away from sharp edges or corners.
- Do not crisscross or twist the straps.
- Make sure that the belts are at a 30 to 60-degree angle; a
45-degree angle is best.
- Never use the 4-point system without also using the 3-point
lap and shoulder belt.
- Make sure that the wheelchair doesn’t have forward or reverse
movement.
- If you can’t get the wheelchair attached properly, contact
dispatch.
Wheelchair Securement Checklist
- The wheelchair is forward-facing.
- The wheelchair is centered on the anchorage.
- Brakes are set and power is off.
- The wheelchair is anchored at 4 points using the
manufacturer’s instructions.
- The straps are attached properly:
- They are at as close to a 45 degree angle as possible.
- The angle is no less than 30 degrees and no more than 60
degrees.
- They are not attached to the wheels or any detachable
portion of the wheelchair.
- They do not bend around any object.
- They are away from sharp edges or corners.
- They don’t crisscross.
- They are not twisted.
- There is no forward or reverse movement.
SECURING THE STUDENT |
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- Always use a 3-point system to secure the student. The
occupant restraint system is separate from the wheelchair
securement. The 3-point system secures the student’s pelvis and
torso.
- The occupant restraint system can be attached in several ways:
- To the school bus anchorage points.
- To the wheelchair securement system.
- To the wheelchair itself.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- General guidelines
- Position the lap belt:
- Over the pelvic bones, not the abdomen.
- Inside the arm rests between the side panels and the
cushion.
- Adjust the lap belt so it is snug.
- Position the shoulder belt so it does not cross the
student’s face or neck. Never position the shoulder belt under
the student’s arm where it would cross the rib cage.
- Adjust the shoulder belt to achieve firm but comfortable
tension.
- Never twist the belts. The belts should always lie flat
against the body.
THE SEATING PLAN |
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- Things to consider:
- Loading order.
- Medical conditions:
- Who is medically fragile?
- Who is prone to seizures?
- Who is young or in a child safety seat?
- Who has a respiratory condition?
- Who needs extra lower extremity support?
- Evacuation:
- Which students can evacuate themselves?
- Which students need help?
- Which students could help others?
- Who is in a child safety seat?
- Behavior: Which students are compatible and which aren’t?
- Supervision: Who needs to be monitored, either for behavior
or for a medical condition?
- Put the plan in writing.
THE SAFE STOPPING PLAN |
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- Things to consider:
- Where to stop the school bus so the wheelchair lift operates
properly.
- Where to stop so that you can be seen by other traffic.
- How and when to use the warning systems.
- Where to stop if the original site is not available.
- Put the plan in writing.
LOCAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES |
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