More than 1,200 to complete hands-on training in partnership with Houston Fire Department

HISD’s Transportation Services, in partnership with the Houston Fire Department, will provide realistic emergency and rescue training to all bus drivers and attendants to prepare them to respond successfully to any crisis on a school bus.  The training will be August 6 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Houston Fire Department Training Facility, 8030 Braniff Street.

Mock emergency drills will prepare bus drivers and attendants to respond to a variety of potential scenarios, including a fire on a school bus, an armed intruder on board, and a wreck involving a train.

“This training challenges every attendee with realistic emergency situations where the safety of the students on board will depend on their ability to respond successfully,” HISD Transportation General Manager Nathan Graf said.  “In addition, transportation team members will learn safe evacuation methods, student management, how to remain calm in a crisis and first aid for burns and smoke inhalation.”

HISD’s Transportation Services will also be rolling out a silent panic alarm, which has been activated on all its school buses. HISD is one of the first public school districts to offer this feature. The silent alarm can be used by a driver to alert dispatch in the event of a life-threatening situation.  Unlike the visible bus radio used to notify dispatch, the silent alarm is discreetly activated by the driver.    

In May 2012, the HISD Transportation Department was nominated as one of two districts in the nation for the prestigious Larson Quality Award, which spotlights school bus operations that provide high-quality customer service in safety-centered operations.  HISD has also ranked as one of the “100 Best Fleets” nationwide consecutively over the last three years.  Each day, about 875 HISD school buses travel 80,000 miles as they transport 30,000 students to and from school.