Community Action
Some heroes wear vests
CAA School Safety Patrollers are easy to spot on duty wearing their lime green vests. Safety patrollers are student volunteers who have been trained by local police services to use potentially life-saving skills while on duty. There have been over 80 documented cases of patrollers saving lives. These are some of their stories...
Have some comments or a story you'd like to share? Email us at schoolsafetypatrol@caasco.ca and tell us all about it!
2011 Patroller of the Year
Martin Ffrench, from Peel Region, was selected as our 2011 Patroller of the Year. He's the bus captain for his route, so he knows all about his role and responsibility as a bus patroller. His incredible safety skills have been instrumental in ensuring that all students are getting to and from school safely, and he's been recognized by parents and bus drivers as setting a good example. He is a positive role model and team player that always shows appropriate behaviour. He consults with coordinators both daily at the bus lines and by making appointments at the office to discuss any issues. He has been especially supportive of the new full-day Kindergarten students - in fact, he made an effort to learn the names of children riding the bus, built relationships, and knows which family members pick them up at their stop. He takes initiative to do his job, and does it well.
Congratulations on a great job, Martin!
Other Heroes on Duty
In November of 2008, Kathleen Zavitz and Alexis Smith were on duty as bus patrollers when Bus 174 slipped off the road and into the ditch landing partially on its side. The bus was travelling at a slow rate and when it moved onto the soft shoulder, the ground gave way under the wheels causing the bus to slide into the ditch. The bus driver was unable to leave her seat. Luckily, Kathleen and Alexis were on board! Alexis was the first student off the bus. She assisted students as they climbed out of the window and onto the road. Kathleen stayed on the bus and assisted the students as they climbed out the window. These patrollers were instrumental in helping 12 students exit through a window on the upward side of the bus, down onto the road and then into a driveway where they stayed until help arrived.
Way to go girls! You rock!
Elizabeth Blenkarn was volunteering as a bus patroller when she came to the aid of a kindergarten student who fell and hurt himself. She administered first aid to the boy's cut and then sat and comforted him to keep him calm as the bus driver called for help.
