Child Left on Bus During Heat Wave Makes Every Mom Paranoid
You're probably going to tell me I'm nuts, but the idea of my kid getting into an accident on her bus doesn't scare me that much. At least not when compared to the idea of her being left, alone, on a hot bus, all day. That? That makes me want to drive her to school every day from here until senior year.
It's a bit irrational. I get it. But the story of a little boy with special needs left on a bus in boiling hot Jersey City (hello, New York-area heat wave?) this week is one of those horrible affirmations of my crazy fear. The child, who has limited speaking skills and therefore couldn't yell for help, was found at 12:45 p.m. To give that some perspective, his parents said he was picked up at 7:45 a.m.!
The boy was rescued by a mechanic, and the bus driver and an aide on the bus have been let go. But this isn't an isolated incident. A month and a half ago, a kindergartner was left on a bus in a Florida school district, and he wasn't found until 1 p.m. A few weeks ago it was a 3-year-old headed to speech classes who was forgotten on a bus in New Hampshire.
Everything that applies to leaving a child in a hot car applies to leaving them in a hot bus. The vehicle heats up to dangerous -- sometimes fatal -- temperatures. Only you, the parent, have no control. The suggestions from experts to ensure that you don't fall victim to the "OMG, I left my kid" accident don't apply. You're not there to check on your kid. And you aren't going to go looking for them after 5, 15, 50 minutes because you expect them to be gone for a large period of time.
Of course, just like I said, I have no control . . . almost. I encourage my daughter to sit near the front of the bus -- more because bus drivers have an easier time tracking bullies at the front than anything, but it has the advantage that if she falls asleep all the kids walking by her to disembark will notice it. Hopefully someone will say something. She's also been instructed to drink the water bottle I pack every day for lunch, and try her darndest to get out of there if this should ever happen.
Do you worry about this? Have you prepped your kids?
As a school bus driver this (not you but these drivers) piss me off to no end. It takes all of a minute to check your bus. The worst part is most of the time it's when there are aides on the bus too, so senseless. I know I check my bus within feet of letting my last stop off in the afternoon and before I even leave the school in the morning. I also check again (just in case) before I park out.
It's people like this that make my blood boil.
well im not really worried with my son because he's in a car seat on the bus and there are at least 2 adults on the bus at all times..the driver and one who helps all the disabled kids off the bus..but with my daughter then yes i would be worried because that's just horrible :-( she starts school in august and we have to teach her all about bus safety and what not.... :-/
I never really thought about stuff like that happening to my kids. wow.
I have a friend who drives a school bus, she said just about the same thing.
Quoting Jillysmom:As a school bus driver this (not you but these drivers) piss me off to no end. It takes all of a minute to check your bus. The worst part is most of the time it's when there are aides on the bus too, so senseless. I know I check my bus within feet of letting my last stop off in the afternoon and before I even leave the school in the morning. I also check again (just in case) before I park out.
It's people like this that make my blood boil.
This is just plain horrible...and no excuse for it. My x was a bus driver and when he parked the bus for the night, he had to walk through and check all seats, not just for people but for things left on the bus........why is this not a rule for school buses???
Wow!
The schools here have to inspect the buses before and after their routes.. So I'm thankful for that.
That is terrible!
My daughter does not ride the bus.
QOTD 5-28
- johnny4ever
on Jul. 24, 2011 at 8:45 AM