I received this post from Melody Chamberlain who has spent 15 years as a caregiver and 10 years working in the vehicle modification industry. There is a wealth of information here and she has graciously provided her email address for anyone that might want any further information. I would encourage everyone to check out this website and view the crash test videos. I believe these should be mandatory part of training for both bus drivers and any other staff who are securing students in wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Of particular note is the information about the forces involved in a relatively slow one vehicle crash. I have placed the link to the site on the right hand side of this blog.

Melody Chamberlain

Melody.Chamberlain@pgsurgmed.com  

You are right Barbara, it is not rocket science, but there is an awful lot of science that goes into safe transportation.  Most may not know the laws, standards, and best practices that make transportation for those with special needs safer, and fewer still actually practice these concepts on a daily basis.  Not out of lack of care (for the most part - of course there are the rare exceptions), but from lack of knowledge.  I'll try to highlight some of those laws and issues so that others (particularly parents) can be informed.

For School District Transportation in BC, there are three main laws/standards that come into play.  First, Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has two standards that school buses must meet: CSA D-250 and D-409 (D-409 only if the bus is for transportation of "people with physical disabilities" (CSA language not mine).  I won't give a link for D-409 as it is a purchase only site, but if you want to purchase search for CSA, then search for D-409-02.  This standard lays out the requirements that vehicles must meet, including the minimum size for each mobility aid position, the type and location of the MASOR (mobility aid securement and occupant restraint) system and other requirements such as safety and lighting.  It also cross-references to another CSA standard, namely Z605 which lays out the standards the MASOR system must meet to be considered legal and safe for use in Canada.  If the restraint system is not labeled as Z-605 compliant DO NOT USE IT!  It does not meet the safety and testing standards that Canada requires.  It is clear that each mobility aid position must have at a minimum a four-point tie-down system for the mobility aid (usually wheelchair or stroller) and a lap/shoulder belt (occupant restraint) for the person in the mobility aid device.  School buses in BC must comply with these standards, so they must have these systems.  This is mandated by Provincial Law, in the Motor Vehicle Act/Regulations    http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/LOC/freeside/--%20M%20--/Motor%20Vehicle%20Act%20RSBC%201996%20c.%20318/05_Regulations/28_26_58%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Act%20Regulations/26_58_15.xml#section44.8

A taxi that is being used as a school bus is also legally required to meet these same standards (in other words, they MUST have a MASOR system that meets CSA Z604/605 standards installed) and although taxi drivers are exempt from ambulatory passenger seat belt laws (in general - NOT so when used as a school bus) they are also NOT exempt from this in the case of a wheelchair-seated passenger - they MUST use the complete MASOR system (look at Motor Vehicle Regulation section 44.8 (2)).

Some people do not realize the forces involved in a motor vehicle crash.  The standard for the automobile industry (which has been adopted by the wheelchair industry) for crash testing is 30 MPH/48 KMH.  The deceleration forces in this type of crash (one vehicle going from 50 km to dead stop) is 20G!!  That means that your 100 pound child now is 2000 pounds, or one ton!!  These are extremely high forces and the occupant restraint system (lap and shoulder belt) serve the same function as a vehicle lap/shoulder belt - keep them from being ejected (from their seat, which in this case is a wheelchair or stroller and from the vehicle.  If it is not done up properly, securely, and routed on the chair the way best practice dictates, this safety feature will not work!  For children that are riding school buses that travel at highway speed, the possible crash forces are even greater.  That is why it is so imperative that the restraint system is used properly.

For those who are interested in more documentation about the crash-testing standards, wheelchair transportation in general, and to look at some excellent crash-testing footage, go to http://www.rercwts.org/  This is an excellent site that has an absolute wealth of information and resources on it.  The only caution I have is that this is a US based site, and although the US is much ahead of Canada in rights and requirements for persons with disabilities, Canada leads in safety standards, and there are definitely products and concepts that are considered safe in the US, but not in Canada.

The other main lack in safe transportation (and of course this is just my opinion based on 15 years as a care provider and 10 years of working in the vehicle modification industry) is that there are few resources easily available to train people in real-world safe transportation.  I know Q'Straint and Sure Lok (the two restraint system manufacturers that meet Canadian requirements) do have great training programs.  What they do not address however is things such as the high-end complex seating systems that have a lot of components to them and make proper occupant restraint system location very difficult.  They don't really address or inform about the interaction of postural support (what you show above Barbara) and occupant restraint.  Only an Occupational or Physical Therapist can determine what is necessary for postural support for transport, but there may be a disconnect or lack of knowledge/understanding on the part of the person applying the occupant restraint system as to what the postural support is for, how it functions, and what it should look like done up.  Likewise, the person doing up the postural support may not realize why it is so absolutely vital in many cases to proper occupant restraint effectiveness.

Sorry for such a long note, but it's a complex process!

If you are a parent and have any concerns about how your child is being transported for school or in any other situation, you absolutely have the right and obligation to question the care provider, and refuse transport if it is not done properly!!!  Your child's safety is absolutely number one!