TIP #11: HANDRAILS & DRAWSTRINGS: SCHOOL BUS HAZARD

DRAWSTRINGS CAN BE DANGEROUS

As a child gets off the bus, a drawstring or backpack strap can catch in the handrail.

Children's clothing, especially drawstrings, can cause death or injury. A drawstring can catch in a small gap in playground equipment, a bus handrail, or a bolt. As a child gets off the school bus, a dangling drawstring or loose object may catch in the handrail. If the bus doors close and the child isn't seen, she/he could be dragged and run over by the wheels (A).

Items that can cause these problems include:

• jackets, sweatshirts, and other clothing with drawstrings at the neck or waist
  
  
• backpack straps
  
  
• dangling key chains
  
  
• scarves

  How a drawstring can catch in the gap of a bus handrail. One type of repair to a faulty handrail.

  These drawstrings are too long. They have large toggles that are more likely to catch. Clothes without drawstrings are safer.

  
  
• belt buckles
  
  
• other loose items of clothing
  

SCHOOL BUS IMPROVEMENTS HELP REDUCE THE DANGER:

• School bus manufacturers and school districts have repaired or are repairing the handrails on old buses (B and C).
  
  
• New buses are being designed to make handrails safer.
  
  
• Bus drivers are trained to watch children as they get off the bus. Your child's bus driver should make sure each child has completely cleared the bus when leaving. He/she should look for clothing that could get caught.
  

SIMPLE STEPS MAKE CLOTHING SAFER:

• Choose clothes without drawstrings - snaps, Velcro, buttons, or elastic are better choices (D).
  
  
• Remove hood and neck strings.
  
  
• Remove drawstrings from the waist and bottom of coats.
  
  
• Warn children about dangling key rings, large buckles, and other objects hanging from their backpacks.
  

For more information, contact the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236) or www.nhtsa.dot.gov Illustrations from Indiana University School of Medicine