Bus safety patrols get annual training

Mark Ribble, Leamington Post

All across Windsor and Essex County last week, school bus patrols attended various locations to learn about bus safety and their responsibilities as bus patrol students.

At the Leamington Municipal Marina, bus operator C.A. Bailey Bus Lines hosted about 260 students from 18 schools between Leamington, Kingsville and Harrow over a two-day period.

The Leamington location was set up in six different stations with the students spending time at each station.

The first station was called the Danger Zone, with the next stop being Bus Evacuation, followed by Bus Safety Equipment, Leadership and Crossing, Fire Equipment and Basic First Aid.

Training program organizer Sandra Symons of C.A. Bailey had things running like a top.

"Each station trains them in a different aspect of being a bus patrol," she said.

Police, fire and EMS personnel also had a hand in the training, with Leamington Fire Services Fire Inspector Mike Ciacelli having the most popular of the stations, training the kids in the use of a fire extinguisher.

The program, overseen by Windsor-Essex Student Transportation Services, is recognized as the model to follow throughout the province.