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Business News
Little Falls, N.Y. —
Little Falls Middle School students on Monday afternoon learned how to escape from a smoke filled school bus using the vehicle’s rear emergency door.
Little Falls Firefighter Dennis Harrigan said about 25 million students ride buses daily in the U.S., traveling more than a million miles, which is why it is important for children to learn safety protocols.
“Bus fires can and do happen, and students need to be prepared for them,” he said.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, bus fires can be caused by power steering and transmission fluids that drip on the exhaust system; a failure to refill the oil in the hub after the brakes are replaced; friction caused by dual wheels and various electrical issues, among other causes.
There are more than 2,200 public transit or school bus fires annually, or six per day, according to a 2006 study by the NFPA. The study did not separate school bus fires from city bus or motor coach fires. These fires, according to the report, cause an annual average of three deaths and 30 injuries.
Harrigan said that is why he believes drivers and passengers must be trained.
“It’s important for drivers and students to know how to safely get out of the bus,” he said. “Everyone should know how to use the emergency door, the fire extinguishers, the first aid equipment and the windows as a means of escape in case of a fire or accident.”
Also participating in Monday’s safety presentation were Little Falls Firefighters Brian Dodge, Anthony Giaquinto, Scott Kinville and Chad Malley. The firefighters helped students exit the bus.
Little Falls Middle School students on Monday afternoon learned how to escape from a smoke filled school bus using the vehicle’s rear emergency door.
Little Falls Firefighter Dennis Harrigan said about 25 million students ride buses daily in the U.S., traveling more than a million miles, which is why it is important for children to learn safety protocols.
“Bus fires can and do happen, and students need to be prepared for them,” he said.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, bus fires can be caused by power steering and transmission fluids that drip on the exhaust system; a failure to refill the oil in the hub after the brakes are replaced; friction caused by dual wheels and various electrical issues, among other causes.
There are more than 2,200 public transit or school bus fires annually, or six per day, according to a 2006 study by the NFPA. The study did not separate school bus fires from city bus or motor coach fires. These fires, according to the report, cause an annual average of three deaths and 30 injuries.
Harrigan said that is why he believes drivers and passengers must be trained.
“It’s important for drivers and students to know how to safely get out of the bus,” he said. “Everyone should know how to use the emergency door, the fire extinguishers, the first aid equipment and the windows as a means of escape in case of a fire or accident.”
Also participating in Monday’s safety presentation were Little Falls Firefighters Brian Dodge, Anthony Giaquinto, Scott Kinville and Chad Malley. The firefighters helped students exit the bus.
