Safe Transportation of Youth

Transcription

1 Safe Transportation of Youth This guide is designed to provide an overview of best practices related to the safe transportation of youth. The items described below shall be customized to each organizations policies, procedures and to specific vehicles. Disclaimer This form is designed to be a guide to loss control and safety issues when transporting youth in vehicles. Not all elements of loss are included in this form. The information provided is not intended to include all potential risk or controls. Use of this form does not warrant that all loss and/or claims will be avoided if the program information is followed. By using information in this form, the authors, in no way intends to relieve the Client of its own duties and obligations, nor is Alliant Risk Control Services undertaking, on behalf of or for the benefit of Client or others, that the Client s property or operations are safe, healthful, or in compliance with any law, rule or regulation. Client s remain responsible for its own efforts to reduce risks and should consult their own legal counsel for appropriate guidance. General transportation guidelines are as follows: Seat belts are required for all occupants. All drivers must have a valid driver's license that has not been suspended or revoked for any reason. If the vehicle to be used is designed to carry more than 10people, including the driver (California), the driver must have a commercial driver's license (CDL). Driving time is limited to a maximum of 10 hours in one 24 hour period regardless of the number of drivers available. Driving time must be interrupted by frequent rest, food, and/or recreation stops. The intention is to include sleep and thorough rest breaks while traveling long distances. Don't drive while drowsy. Stop for rest and stretch breaks as needed. Fatigue is a major cause of highway accident fatalities. Drivers must refrain from using electronic devices and phones while driving. Text messaging while driving is prohibited. Hands free units are acceptable, but must be used sparingly while driving. Reference to Auxiliary policy here: Fitting a Child Correctly in a Seat Belt For a child to properly fit a seat belt, he or she must: Be tall enough to sit without slouching; Be able to keep his or her back against the vehicle seat; Be able to keep his or her knees naturally bent over the edge of the vehicle seat; and Be able to keep his or her feet flat on the floor.

2 Additionally: The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest, and not cross the neck or face. Never let a child put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind the back, because it could cause severe injuries in a crash. Always check a child s belt fit in every vehicle. A booster seat may be needed in some vehicles and not in others. If the seat belt does not fit properly yet, the child should continue to use a booster seat. Children under age 13 should sit in a rear seat, if one is available; this reduces the risk of injury by 33 percent. Use a booster seat and seat belt rather than a seat belt alone for a 4 to 8 year old; this will reduce a child s risk of injury by 59 percent. Infants, until they are at least 20 lbs and at least 1 year old, should be in a rear facing child safety seat. Toddlers, until they are about age 4, should be in a child safety seat facing forward. Children, until they are about 4 feet, 9 inches tall or age 8, should be in booster seats. All children should use seat belts after they outgrow booster seats. Ensure all children in the vehicle are properly restrained for their age, height, and weight. Have a child safety seat inspected at a fitting station by a trained technician (see for locations). Back over Many children are killed or seriously injured in back over incidents. A back over incident typically occurs when a vehicle coming out of a driveway or parking space backs over an unattended child because the driver did not see him or her. Back Over Children may not to play in or around cars. Supervise children carefully when in and around vehicles. Always walk around the vehicle and check the area around it before backing up. Be aware of small children the smaller a child, the more likely it is the driver will not see them. Teach children to move away from a vehicle when a driver gets in it or if the car is started. Have children in the area stand to the side of the driveway or sidewalk so the driver can see them as backing out of a driveway or parking space.

3 Roll down vehicle windows while backing out of the parking space as to hear what is happening outside of the vehicle. Look behind while backing up slowly in case a child dashes behind the vehicle unexpectedly. Instruct children to keep toys, bikes and other equipment away from vehicles. Many vehicles are equipped with detection devices that provide rearview video or warning sounds; these devices cannot completely take the place of actively walking around the vehicle to make sure children are safely out of the way. Do not rely solely on back up devices to detect what is behind the vehicle. Power Windows Children can hurt themselves with power windows. Many kids are injured when a window closes on their finger, wrist, or hand. Some kids have been strangled by power windows. Never leave a child alone in a vehicle for any reason. Instruct children not to play with window switches. Instruct children not to stand on passenger door arm rests. Properly restrain children in car seats or seat belts to prevent them from accidentally activating power windows and sunroofs. Look and make sure children s hands, feet, and head, are clear of windows before raising the windows. Never leave the key in the ignition or in the "on" or "accessory" position when away from the vehicle. If available, activate the power window lock switch so passengers cannot play with the windows. All new vehicles will have "pull to close" switches, which require passengers to pull up, to close the window. Older vehicles may have window switches that a child can accidentally step or put weight on, easily causing a window to close. Some vehicles have power windows that automatically reverse when an object (such as an arm) is in the path of a closing window. Check both the individual vehicle rating pages on and the owner's manual to see if a vehicle is equipped with this safety technology.

4 Seat Belt Entanglement A child within reach of a seat belt may become entangled if he or she pulls the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around his or her head, neck, or waist. The majority of seat belts have a locking mechanism that is activated when the seat belt is pulled all the way out from the retractor. This feature is designed for child seat installation. In instances when the locking feature activates, the child may not be able to free him or herself. This can happen if the child is not properly restrained; for example, letting the child lie down or sleep on the vehicle seat, instead of being properly restrained. Older children who are no longer in a child restraint system, can become entangled by pulling a seat belt all the way out of the retractor, or by playing with an unused seat belt. If the vehicle's Lower Anchors and Tether for Children (LATCH) system to install the car seat, a child may be able to reach an unused belt. Do not let children play in or around cars. Never leave a child unattended in or around a vehicle. Always ensure children are properly restrained. Teach children that seat belts are not toys. Be aware that some seat belts have a retractor that locks if pulled all the way out. If a child has an unused seat belt within reach: Buckle unused seat belts. Pull the seat belt out all the way to the end without yanking; feed the excess webbing back into the retractor. If a child seat is installed with LATCH, consider completing the steps above before installing the child seat. Always consult the child seat and vehicle owner's manual for installation instructions. Trunk Entrapment Children are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings. If children are left unattended, in or near a vehicle, it won't be long before they are playing in it. Hide and seek can turn deadly if they get trapped in the trunk, where temperatures can rise very quickly resulting in heatstroke or asphyxiation. Teach children that vehicle trunks are for cargo, not for playing. Always supervise children carefully when in and around vehicles.

5 Check the trunk right away if a child is missing. Lock vehicle doors and trunk and be sure keys and remote entry devices are out of sight and reach from children. Keep rear fold down seats closed/locked to help prevent children from climbing into the trunk from inside the vehicle car. *Note: As of September 1, 2001, auto manufacturers were required to equip all new vehicle trunks with a 'glow in the dark' trunk release inside the trunk compartment. Show children how to use the release in case of an emergency. If the trunk does not have a 'glow in the dark' release, ask an automobile dealership about retrofitting a trunk release mechanism. Vehicle Rollaway With the key in the ignition, automatic transmissions may be shifted "out of park" even if the vehicle's engine is off and the driver's foot is not on the brake. If keys are left in the ignition and turned to the accessory mode (to listen to the radio, open/close the windows, etc.), the vehicle's automatic transmission may be shifted out of "Park" if someone moves the gear selector. Teach children not to play in or around cars. Supervise children carefully when in and around vehicles. Keep vehicle locked when unattended. Never leave keys in the car. Engage the emergency brake every time vehicle is park. All vehicles with automatic transmission with a Park position, manufactured for sale after September 1, 2010, must have a Brake Transmission Safety Interlock (BTSI); which prevents a vehicles from accidentally being put into gear. Facts about Heatstroke Always check the back seats of the vehicle before it is locked. In 10 minutes, a car s temperature can rise over 20 degrees. Even at an outside temperature of 60 degrees, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach 110 degrees. A child dies when his/her body temperature reaches 107 degrees.

6 References: NTSB: Safe Kids: American Academy of Pediatrics: Seat Check: Safe Car: