RELEASE DATE: August 26, 2014 (Sacramento):  Sacramento City Unified School District is joining forces with local law enforcement and other agencies to stage a mock school bus accident at McClellan Park on Thursday, August 28.

WHAT: Multi-Agency Mock School Bus Accident Training Exercise
WHERE: Northern California Regional Public Safety Training Authority, 2409 Dean St., McClellan Park
WHEN: 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 28

The exercise is part of a three-day training schedule for bus drivers before the start of school on September 2. “Preparation is the key to school bus driver training,” said Chuck Ernst, Director of Distribution Services. “The mock school bus accident is something that all drivers should observe and participate in so they are ready in case of a major accident.”

At 10 a.m., a 9-1-1 call will report a major accident involving a passenger van and a 30-foot school bus at McClellan’s Northern California Regional Public Safety Training Authority location. Responders will arrive to find the bus on its side and “victims” played by young local actors. Some will be trapped in the bus and others will be lying on the ground. The actors will be given realistic-looking wounds through a one-hour “moulage” process courtesy of Sacramento Metro Fire Department. SCUSD parents have volunteered to play family members of injured students.

Conditions permitting, a rescue helicopter from Cal-Star is scheduled to land at the scene.

Agencies participating with SCUSD in the training exercise include Sacramento Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Sac Metro Fire, Cal Star and the American Red Cross. The training exercise was developed with bus drivers in mind, but other personnel will take away valuable lessons, too, says Nina Delgadillo, SCUSD Safe Schools Manager.