Training Programs for Safe Passenger Transportation

This class offers classroom discussion, video presentations, and hands-on participation on the proper installation techniques of child passenger safety seats.  Participants will learn
• Types of car seats and boosters on the market
• How to select the best type of seat for the child passenger
• Identification of common errors in car seat installation.
The course is based on the curriculum produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Participants will leave with knowledge they can use to keep their youngest passengers more secure.

Transporting child in a childcare is a high risk activity.  Childcare operators should understand how careful planning, a proactive staff, and protective measures helps to ensure the safety of child passengers.  The focus of this training is to help child care directors and staff to establish standardized operational practices for the safe transportation of children.  This training focuses on management responsibility, driver fitness and equipment safety.   This class is approximately 3.0 hour

Specifically designed for the employee who has been driving for some time, this course offers comprehensive coverage of techniques that may have been forgotten over the years.  It also introduces new techniques to help fine-tune collision-prevention skills.  This non-lecture style course will present information on
• Alcohol, other drugs and driving 
• Driving in commercial areas 
• Right-turn procedures 
• Safe backing and parking.
This class, ideal for employees who drive various agency vehicles or their own vehicles for agency purposes, is approved as a Defensive Driving Course (DDC) by the Office of Driver Services, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
This is a comprehensive defensive driving course developed by the National Safety Council which focuses on the unique characteristics of driving vans.  Using a video presentation, written responses and discussion of realistic situations, participants will learn:
• Proper following and stopping distances
• Ways to reduce accidents caused by adverse weather and driving conditions
• Techniques that increase road hazards awareness.
Recent safety recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reduce rollover risks have been added.  This class is approved as a Defensive Driving Course (DDC) by the Office of Driver Services, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, and includes a National Safety Council Response Book.

Whether the emergency is sudden cardiac arrest or choking, your staff should feel confident responding to the situation.  This Heartsaver CPR/AED course, developed by the American Heart Association for the lay responder, can be tailored to teach skills to assist adults, children or infants.  The class consists of discussion, AED demonstration and hands-on practice. Each participant will receive an American Heart Association CPR Student Workbook.  CPR certification is valid for 2 years.

A phone call, a couple of text messages, a few moments to check your hair in the rearview mirror, adjusting the radio or changing the song on your player. These may seem like nothing. But they could mean EVERYTHING to your safety and those around you. Distracted driving is a national conern with thousands of motorists, passengers and even pedestrians at risk from actions that may seem like nothing. However they may have far-reaching and tragic consequences. Take time to learn what you can do to be someone that cares about the people in your vehicle and in your life. Learn to focus on what's really important when you get behind the wheel.
Things happen quickly when you are driving. Doing anything that divides your attention creates a situation that could keep you from reacting quickly enough to avoid an accident. This course will define distraction, show some of the most common forms of driver distractions and offer solutions. We will discuss the importance of having an agency policy on driving distracted. A sample policy will be distributed.
In November 2007, the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services adopted Standards for Centers with Community-Based Programs.  Included in these standards are requirements for employees providing non-medical transportation services. This training is designed to fulfill those requirements.
Topics to be covered include:
• Defensive driving
• Sensitive and understand of the of the aging process
• Overview of diseases and functional factors commonly affecting older adults
• Environmental considerations affecting passengers with disabilities
• Passenger assistance techniques
• Proper wheelchair management and securement techniques
• Wheelchair lift operation
• Emergency procedures
Each participant will receive a certificate of completion

Drug use and alcohol abuse in the transportation workplace affects the safety of everyone:  passengers, employees and the general public.  The session includes the physical, behavioral and performance indicators, as well as the collection process, for alcohol and controlled substances according to US Department of Transportation Regulations.  This course meets federal regulations (FMCSA and FTA) requiring education and/or training of covered employees

This class focuses on the signs of probable alcohol abuse and drug use by safety-sensitive employees and the responsibilities of supervisors and managers to make a reasonable suspicion determination.  Supervisors learn the physical, behavioral and performance indicators, as well as the collection process, for alcohol and controlled substances according to US Department of Transportation Regulations.  This course meets federal regulations (FMCSA and FTA) which requires supervisory training.  The course is designed for both the new supervisor and veteran who may need a refresher on D&A determination skills.

Your drivers will learn to anticipate, prepare for and respond to unexpected events on the road.  Highlights of the course include
• Vehicle and mental preparation
• Hazardous weather conditions
• Breakdown and accident procedures.

Enable drivers and attendants to respond quickly and effectively to vehicle emergencies that require immediate evacuation of mobility-impaired passengers.  Various evacuation techniques are demonstrated and practiced.  The agency will also receive a DVD with over 20 evacuation scenarios.

Who would leave a child in a car alone? The question seems almost rhetorical. But unfortunately hundreds of children have died after being left in hot vehicles. This course provides background on what hyperthermia is, why this happens, and ways to prevent it. It is an ideal course for parents, caregivers and transit operators.

This seminar examines how individuals are affected by obligations during working hours and personal time.  Participants become aware of many factors in their daily lives that cause harm to their bodies.  Determination and will cannot overcome the biological and physiological conditions caused by fatigue.

Prepare employees to recognize on-the-job emergencies and provide the appropriate assistance for injuries and illnesses, such as burns, cuts, bad allergic reactions, diabetic episodes and seizures.  This training, which includes a First Aid manual for each participant, can be presented alone or with CPR.  First Aid certification is valid for 2 years.

This course, recently created by the National Transit Institute, is intended for transportation employees and others who work directly with the public and maintenance employees who are responsible for cleaning and servicing the vehicles.  Using lecture, visual aids, participant interaction and learning activities, attendees will gain the knowledge and skill to
• Identify the types of diseases to which they may be exposed
• Discuss how these illnesses are most often spread
• Describe how they can protect themselves and others from contracting these diseases
• Explain the proper method for disposal and decontamination of infectious materials or contaminated areas.

The DHS Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education has established a new training requirement for Out-Of-School facilities as part of new employee orientation.  ATA has developed a training module to teach child care employee about required licensing regulations pertaining to transportation, child passenger safety, van driver safety and how to prevent leaving a child on a vehicle.

This class is approximately 2.5 hours.

What would you do if your vehicle stalled or was trapped on railroad tracks?  The most preventable crash is one involving a train and a motor vehicle.  This class will teach very practical skills for stopping at rail grade crossing, checking for trains and what to do if you must evacuate your passengers from a railroad crossing.  Operation Lifesaver is an international program on railroad safety.

All passengers deserve respect and dignity, and a safe, comfortable ride.  A good relationship with your customers is vital to this goal.  Using video presentations, operator handbooks developed by Project Action/Easter Seals, discussion and hands-on techniques, participants will gain knowledge and confidence to help passengers with various needs.  Best practice skills for loading and securing passengers using wheelchairs are included.

"Watch your step," "Be careful," "Look out for traffic." These are some of the statements made by operators each day as customers board or alight transit vehicles. The primary goal and responsiblity of any driver is to make sure his or her passengers have a safe, comfortable and respectful experience. However, each vehicle, whether it is a fixed-route bus, paratransit van or demand-response minivan, travels in environments where pedestrians are all around. Some people may be customers traveling to or from the transit vehicles. Others just happen to be in the vacinity as the transit vehicle passes through. This course raises awareness of the potential for danger and even disaster should a transit operator not take all reasonable and necessary steps to reduce the risk of bus-pedestrian collisions. Fixed-Route Transit and Paratransit versions are available for this class.

Providing transportation in a safe, comfortable and passenger-oriented manner demand that drivers are well trained and knowledgeable about equipment they use, conditions under which they are expect to drive, and the people they serve.  National RTAP has developed START as a training tool to help guide the participant through three key areas Vehicle Safety, Driver Safety and Passenger Safety.  By the end of the course, participants will be able to
• Conduct a pre-trip inspection to ensure that the vehicle does not have an obvious safety deficiency 
• Operate the vehicle using industry best-practices in safety and security 
• Safely load and unload ambulatory and non-ambulatory passengers
• Utilize industry best-practices for managing on-board incidents. 
This class is approved as a Defensive Driving Course (DDC) by the Office of Driver Services, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.

What is stress?  How can we manage or reduce it?  Studies show that productivity and efficiency increase as workers learn to positively cope with personal and professional stressors.  A stress susceptibility scale shows participants if they are more or less likely effected by daily pressures.  This course presents various stress relief techniques.

Using the new National RTAP training module “Safety Training and Rural Transit,” the instructor will present each of the three sections of the training and offer suggestions that will enhance the topics.  Participants will learn how to more effectively teach and coach adult learners.  Other training tips will be offered, such as icebreakers and group participation exercises.  Each participant will receive a CD with all necessary training materials, computer-based training and PowerPoint program.

Learn how to meet the transportation needs of passengers who have a variety of disabilities, such as spinal cord injury or other mobility impairments, vision or hearing impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, mental retardation or conditions related to aging.

The safety and security of transit employees and the public is a primary concern for any agency that provides transportation.  In addition to protecting their systems from crime or acts of terrorism, agencies and employees face the challenge of addressing workplace violence issues everyday.  Whether it is a threat of a physical attack or  intimidating behavior by customers, co-workers, and others, this newly-created course from the National Transit Institute responses to a need for front-line employees and supervisors to prevent, respond to, and recover from workplace violence incidents.  Provide your transit employees with the skills and knowledge to
• Recognize and define workplace violence
• Identify agency and personal security measures for preventing workplace violence
• Describe strategies for dealing with “different,” “difficult,” and “dangerous people”
• Discuss the importance of recovering from workplace violence.