Training for school bus crash

Barnett Crossroads Fire Chief and State Trooper Ben Roe said it's not a matter of 'if' but a matter of 'when' emergency personnel are dispatched to a school bus crash.

This past Saturday, first responders from multiple agencies gathered at Flomaton Speedway for a training exercise on how to address such a tragedy.

"Any kind of training you can get is beneficial," Roe said. "A school bus is a unique individual."

He said what makes school buses unique is not just their commercial grade of construction, but the precious cargo they carry.

"The overwhelming majority of buses in Escambia County are going to be school buses," he said. "When a school bus crashes the stress level on everybody goes up."

He said the training exercises are designed to teach first responders the proper way to cut into the buses and get the children out.

Roe said Micha McCall at the speedway donated the buses for the training that included fire departments from Barnett Crossroads, Pineview, Flomaton, Jay, and Berrydale along with MedStar Ambulance and Emergency Management Director David Adams. Kenny Fhel and Will Morris with Escambia County (Fla.) were the top instructors.

Roe said thankfully school buses are built to protect children, but that also means they are more difficult to cut into if children are trapped inside.

"The number of volunteer firemen we have in this area is declining," Roe said. "That's why it's so important to get as many people trained as we can."

Roe said he will plan another training exercise for school bus crashes at a later date and said the training is open to all first responders.