Children hurt in Bristol bus emergency stop
Eleven Bristol children were hurt when a bus taking them back to school from a sports session had to make an emergency stop.
The injured youngsters were among 50 Year Seven pupils from Bristol Cathedral Choir School on a double-decker bus which was returning to the school from its playing fields at Failand shortly before 4pm yesterday when the driver had to brake suddenly to avoid a car near Long Ashton.
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After the incident the bus driver dialled 999 and Great Western Ambulance Service sent a paramedic to assess the casualties.
Finding that none of the children were seriously injured, paramedic Chris Hewett opted to keep them on the bus rather than try to treat them by the roadside.
The bus went back to the school where a special treatment area was set up in a classroom ready to treat the youngsters on arrival.
Mr Hewett said: "There were 11 children with a variety of minor injuries.
"Rather than treat them by a busy road, we made the decision for the bus to return to the school, where I was joined by a doctor and critical care paramedic from the Great Western Air Ambulance.
"By the time we arrived, the school had set up a casualty clearing station – in effect a classroom with screened-off areas for us to triage and treat the children. There were black eyes, some bangs to the head, a wrist injury, shoulder injury and a couple of nose bleeds.
"One child was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital by their parents. The rest were discharged and went home with medical advice should their condition change."
12 Comments
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by eddie, bristol
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 8:47PM
“wow no road closures just a sensible decision to carry on to the school , what a refreshing decision from the paramedic probably before the police arrived LOL”
by DCI Gene Hunt, Hyde, 1973
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 7:41PM
“Since WHEN have year seven children been called 'students'???? They're bloody school kids, not university wastrels, (medical/engineering degrees are fine with Gene Hunt).
Savvy?”
by Mrs Lovejoy, Springfield
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 4:45PM
“Will someone please think of the children?”
by slightly immature name tag, because we can, not really Oxon
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 12:53PM
“Welcome to a website where you are invited to "comment"
(....the devil is in the detail, which bit do you not understand ?)
Please pontificate & share your point of view ; a public enquiry & due judicial process may not always be required.
Please wash head thoroughly when you have removed it from your posterior orifice.
Yes at least the kids are alright.”
by Jeff Alford, Blackwell
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 12:27PM
“As a self-qualified expert of the highest order on this type of stuff, 2 issues:
1. I wasn't there, so I'll resist the urge to pontificate and patronise from a small university town in Oxfordshire.
2. And secondly , Alice, although it grates somewhat when grateful is mispelled, I really do take isssue with your inference that these children are somehow guilty of ingratitude for surviving an extremely non-lethal accident.”
by AMM, Ashton
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 11:59AM
“R of Fishponds does not realise that BCS is no longer a fee paying school..”
by Sandra, bristol
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 11:58AM
“My son was also one of the students on the bus but thankfully only sustained a slight bang to the head. Strange that we didn't receive a letter from the school explaining what happened,instead of reading it here . Anyway they were all safe due to the driver's quick actions.”
by Rosie, Bristol
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 11:23AM
“My son was one of the students on this bus. The bus was not fitted with seat belts, which, in my opinion, it should have been. That said, the driver did well to avoid more serious injuries, for which we are all thankfull.”
by R, Fishponds
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 11:19AM
“Perhaps Cathedral School should be organising single-decker coaches with seatbelts as a priority for their students. Seeing as their parents no doubt pay a fortune to send their children there surely they can be assured that they'll be safe if taken off school grounds?!”
by rob, Bristol
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 10:39AM
“Does not matter how far ahead the driver looked, he has to take the consideration of his passengers into consideration plus the 13 odd tonnes of vehicle he has under his control.
Cant comment on buse's however, it is a legal requirement to wear seatbelts if fitted to the coach and the driver has to make an announcement to make the passengers of this. If passengers then refuse to wear their seabelt then that is their own problem.
Driver has done fairly well in my honest opinion to avoid anything serious other than general injuries, be thankful for that.”