23. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES The American Red Cross offers courses in Responding to Emergencies, First Aid, CPR, and Bloodborne pathogens. For information on American Red Cross training opportunities, contact your local chapter at: http://www..org/en/where redcross
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Message The goal of Module 3 is that participants will apply knowledge of safety in school areas. Participants will understand the concept of traffic gaps and solutions that create safe gaps for pedestrians. They will understand the warrant for use of school crossing guards and intersection/crosswalk safety considerations necessary to identify hazardous conditions. Lastly, participants will know the proper procedures for handling emergency situations.
Message The purpose of the school area traffic and pedestrian control devices that we just went over is to prevent pedestrian – vehicle conflicts. But, how do you know if a control is warranted at a particular crosswalk? What are the crossing control criteria? One way to determine the need is called “gap analysis.” The problem is that students need to wait for a gap in traffic that is of sufficient duration to permit reasonably safe crossing. When the delay between the occurrences of adequate gaps becomes excessive, students might become impatient and endanger themselves by attempting to cross the street during an inadequate gap. Reference U.S. Department of Transportation ( USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 2003 Edition, R1 2004 & R2 2007. http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2003r1r2/pdf_index.htm
Message After determining a gap is not adequate from a gap analysis or an “engineering study”; here is what the MUTCD gives as coutnermeasures: 1. Warning Signs and Flashers 2. School Speed Zones 3. School Crossing Guards 4. Grade-Separated Crossing (tunnel/bridge), or 5. Traffic Control Signal These are given in order of preference, i.e. impact on vehicular traffic and cost. The solution of course will also need to be determined by: 1. The age of the children crossing 2. The width of the street 3. The sight distance at the crossing 4. Speed of vehicles 5. The volume of traffic and numbers of pedestrians 6. Accident history and conflict data, and 7. “Hazardous Walking Conditions”, we will discuss what constitutes a “hazardous walking condition” later in the module. Ask the class: Does anyone have any questions about Pedestrian/Traffic Conflicts? Reference U.S. Department of Transportation ( USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Manualon Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 2003 Edition, R1 2004 & R2 2007. http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2003r1r2/pdf_index.htm
Message Let's look at the school crossing guard solution. This solution of course is only permissible in school areas. So, when is using an adult school crossing guard the best solution? The MUTCD 2003 Section 7E.02 states that adult school crossing guards “ may be used to provide gaps in traffic at a school crossing where an engineering study has shown that adequate gaps need to be created and where authorized by law.” There is no absolute National or State of Iowa criteria. But, under certain circumstances, the use of an adult guard may be the best solution. 1. When young school aged children are crossing because of their inability to handle or understand a traffic control or pedestrian control system, 2. When children ignore signal indications and cross contrary to safe signals, 3. When there are only brief periods of high pedestrian traffic, or under 4. “Hazardous Walking Conditions” Ask the Class: Does anyone have any questions about Warrants of Use of Crossing Guards? Reference U.S. Department of Transportation ( USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHA). Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 2003 Edition, R1 2004 & R2 2007. http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2003r1r2/pdf_index.htm
Message School crossing guards are required to inspect the signs and markings near their assigned crosswalk at the beginning of each school year, and periodically throughout the year. Reference U.S. Department of Transportation ( USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 2003 Edition, R1 2004 & R2 2007. http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2003r1r2/pdf_index.htm
Message Guards must report any signs and markings that seem to be missing, damaged, or otherwise in need of maintenance. Missing, damaged, or obscured traffic control devices can endanger pedestrian students as motorists may not proceed with caution or know to reduce their speed. School crossing guards shall inspect the signs and markings at the beginning of each school year, and periodically throughout the year and report any that seem to be missing, damaged, or otherwise in need of maintenance, to your supervisor.
Message Here are some real life examples of poor conditioned signage: paint is degrading, the flashers are burned out, or the speed limit sign is warped. Ask the Class: Does anyone have any questions about Guard Inspection Requirements?
Message In addition to a periodic inspection, guards must be observant and able to recognize hazardous conditions at their crossing area. Before starting crossing duties, take a moment to look for hazardous conditions.
Message These are examples of things you should be on the lookout for. Hazards which can create sight obstructions include: parked cars, signs, signal controller boxes, mailboxes, bushes/low-hanging tree branches, and benches. Hazards which can force pedestrians to walk in an unsafe location: standing water in sidewalks, broken sidewalks, construction debris, open drainage grates, loose dogs, and overgrown plants. Key Point: Report these to your supervisor as soon as practical.
Message Malfunctioning or inoperative traffic or pedestrian signals must be reported immediately. Children should not be crossed until a traffic control officer arrives to direct traffic so the students can be safely crossed. Key Point: Report these to your supervisor immediately. Key Point: If a traffic or pedestrian control device is inoperative or malfunctioning report it immediately and do not cross children until a Traffic Control Officer arrives to direct traffic.
Message See how many pedestrian hazards you can identify in this graphic. Participants should identify: 1. The damaged sidewalk causing students to walk into the road. 2. The car parked within 10 ft of the crosswalk that is an obstruction. 3. A damaged sign, missing sign, and an obscured sign. 4. Badly worn crosswalk marking. 5. Overgrown bush blocking crosswalk.
Message If a guard witnesses a motorist breaking the law by driving in a way that endangers children he or she should report this to a supervisor at the end of the shift. To make a report a guard should note: 1. Model and make of vehicle, 2. Color of vehicle, 3. License plate number, 4. Description of incident, 5. Time of incident, 6. Direction of travel, 7. Pedestrians involved
Message If a guard observes a student behaving unsafely near traffic, such as darting into the street without looking or crossing against a signal, they should be counseled on safe crossing techniques. Remind the student of the look -LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT technique. If student doesn't comply with the guard's instructions, the guard shall take the student's name and report the incident to his or her supervisor.
Message Crossing guards, by the nature of their jobs, are around young children when they are going to and returning from school, times when their parents are not around to protect them. Unfortunately, there are sexual predators and drug dealers who prey on young kids. School crossing guards must be vigilant of suspicious activity such as a stranger talking with the students, an occupied parked car, or a vehicle that repeatedly passes the guard's location. In all these cases, the guard should notify his or her supervisor as soon as the shift ends. If a guard feels that the situation is happening now and needs immmediate police attention, he should call (ask a passerby to phone or use a personal cell phone if he has one) the local police agency immediately for assistance. Key Point: Remember, guards are not law enforcement officers and should not take any action unless a child's safety is in immediate jeopardy.
Message If a guard observes suspicious activity he or she should take down the following information: Sex, Race, Age, Clothing Description, Hair Color, Height / Weight, and Direction of Travel.
Message Now, who can give me the required information? Write it down! - Guards should have a pad and pen/pencil with them while on duty. Ask the Class: Does anyone have any questions about Hazardous Conditions?
Message In the event of an emergency at a crossing area, the guard should keep control of the situation and ensure the safety of the children. There are several types of emergency situations that could occur at a school crosswalk location: 1. Vehicle / Pedestrian crash; 2. Vehicle / Bicycle crash; 3. Vehicle / Vehicle crash; 4. Sudden Illness; 5. Natural Hazards; and 6. Man-made Hazards
Message If an emergency arises, the same basic rules apply to each situation: 1. Remain at your post 2. Stop crossing the children 3. Group children to maintain control (ask safety patrol to assist if available) 4. Get multiple motorists to call 911 or use your cell phone (if safety patrol is available, send him or her to school to have call made) 5. DO NOT MOVE VICTIM 6. Use a vehicle to block crash victim from traffic if necessary 7. Always notify your supervisor as soon as possible of any emergency that may have occurred at your post. 8. Guards should not render First Aid unless trained (in accordance with your agency's policy) 9. Resume crossing students only after receiving assistance from law enforcement to direct motorists around the crash scene 10. Crossing guards ARE NOT authorized to direct traffic unless they have been trained. 11. REMEMBER, a guard's first responsibility is to protect the children from unsafe situations. In the event of a traffic crash or infraction, a guard may be asked to provide information to law enforcement personnel. Talk to law enforcement personnel only. Do not talk to the media or the parties involved in the incident. Politely refer any question from the news media to your supervisor, giving the supervisor's name and phone number.
Message As stated in Iowa Code 135.147 named “Immunity for emergency aid – exceptions” 1. A person, corporation, or other legal entity, or an employee or agent of such person, corporation, or entity, who, during a public health disaster, in good faith and at the request of or under the direction of the department or the department of public defense renders emergency care or assistance to a victim of the public health disaster shall not be liable for civil damages for causing the death of or injury to a person, or for damage to property, unless such acts or omissions constitute recklessness. Reference The Iowa Legislature. Advance Document Search. Iowa Code 2009. http://search.legis.state.ia.us/NXT/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm . Retrieved August 8, 2009.
Message 2. The immunities provided in this section shall not apply to any person, corporation, or other legal entity, or an employee or agent of such person, corporation, or entity, whose act or omission caused in whole or in part the public health disaster and who would otherwise be liable therefore. Background 2007 Acts, ch 159, §21 Reference The Iowa Legislature. Advance Document Search. Iowa Code 2009. http://search.legis.state.ia.us/NXT/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm . Retrieved August 8, 2009.
Message In any emergency situation a guard shall not attempt any first aid that he or she is not trained or equipped to do. Guards must also be aware of diseases that are transmitted through blood, known as “Blood-Borne” disease such as HIV and Hepatitis B and diseases that can be transmitted through air which are called “Airborne” diseases, such as Tuberculosis. Some of these are deadly diseases, so guards should take care not to come in contact with any blood. That includes bloody noses and skinned knees or elbows. For more information on available first aid training, contact your local American Red Cross chapter. Ask the Class: Does anyone have any questions about Emergency Procedures? That completes Module 4