Christopher Sears
25 May 2016 · Coroner Karen Henderson · Surrey
The coroner's concerns
1. bus drivers without Basic Life Support training
“There is no requirement for bus companies tendering for contracts from Local Authorities to transport pupils/students to ensure all their drivers have undergone training in Basic Life Support.”
2. drivers lack Basic Life Support qualification
“There is no requirement for drivers transporting pupils/students to hold a Basic Life Support qualification”
3. absence of emergency protocols for bus drivers
“No protocols were in place to assist a driver as to what to do in an emergency situation whilst driving a bus including the need to call the emergency services at the earliest opportunity”
4. school inability to notify bus company about health risks
“The school were unable to inform the bus company concerned without a formal diagnosis and to put protective measures in place”
5. absence of mandatory BLS education for secondary students
“Basic Life Support training is not taught as a matter of course to young adults in secondary education and is not part of the national curriculum”
Responses
2016-0212-Response-by-Department-for-Education.pdf ↗· Department for Education
Stated action · autumn
“We intend to consult on a revised version of the guidance on school transport in the autumn. Subject to any responses received in response to this consultation, we will consider whether we should further clarify both the description of the training that drivers should undertake and our expectation that training for bus drivers and escorts should include basic life support training alongside the implementation of healthcare protocols, including emergency protocols.”
2016-0212-Response-by-Department-for-Transport.pdf ↗· Department for Transport