Iowa Crossing Guard Training 3 Safety

MODULE 3 – Safety

• Module Goal o Participants will apply knowledge of safety in school areas.

• Objective Oneo Participants will understand the concept of traffic gaps and solutions that

create safe gaps for pedestrians.• Objective Two

o Participants will understand the warrant for use of school crossing guards.• Objective Three

o Participants will understand intersection / crosswalk safety considerations necessary to identify hazardous conditions.

• Objective Fouro Participants will know the proper procedures for handling emergency

situations.

MUTCD

PEDESTRIAN - VEHICLE CONFLICTS

Alternate gaps and traffic blockages• Inherent in the traffic stream

• Different at each crossing location.

Students need to:• Wait for sufficient gap in traffic.

• If long wait, students can be impatient and cross the street at

unsafe moment.

• Adult crossing guards may be used to provide gaps in traffic at school crossings where an engineering study has shown that adequate gaps need to be created. MUTCD 7E.02

• But when are crossing guards the best solution? • There are no absolute national criteria.• Consider:

o Age of children – inability to handle signal system

o Inadequate response of children to signal indications

o Brief periods of high pedestrian traffico “Hazardous Walking Conditions”

PEDESTRIAN - VEHICLE CONFLICTS

INSPECTING TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

• Annual and Periodic Inspections• A guard shall inspect the signs and

markings o at the beginning of each school

year, ando periodically throughout the year

• Report any that seem to be missing, damaged, or otherwise in need of maintenance, to his supervisor.

• Refer to Chapters 7B and 7C of the MUTCD.

REPORT THESE TO YOUR SUPERVISOR

FSCGTG

INSPECTING TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

• Missing, damaged, dirty or obscured signs

• Badly worn markings• Also note changed conditions that may

require an engineering study or review of the School Route Plan :o Increased traffico Change in speed limito More students walking/biking to

schoolo Ongoing road repairso New road(s) in School Area

Damaged/Mal-functioning Signs

Light Bulb Burnt Out

Bent Sign

Worn Sign

HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS

• Daily Inspectionso Obstructions and unusual conditions

near the crossing location can lead to high risk vehicle / pedestrian conflicts.

o Guards must be observant and able to recognize hazardous conditions.

o Before starting your crossing duties, take a moment to look for hazardous conditions.

o Report any hazardous conditions to your supervisor.

DAILY INSPECTIONSREPORT THESE TO YOUR SUPERVISOR AS SOON AS

PRACTICAL


• Hazards which can create sight obstructions:o Parked cars o Signso Signal controller boxeso Mailboxeso Bushes / low-hanging tree

brancheso Benches

• Hazards which can force pedestrians to walk in an unsafe location:o Standing water in sidewalkso Broken sidewalkso Construction debriso Open drainage grateso Loose dogso Overgrown plants

REPORT THESE TO YOUR SUPERVISOR IMMEDIATELY


• Other hazards that can lead to vehicle / pedestrian conflicts:o Malfunctioning pedestrian signalo Malfunctioning traffic signal

• Do not cross students until a traffic control officer arrives

Iowa Adult School Crossing Guard Training Program Module 4 / Safety


• While on duty unsafe behaviorso Drivers

A guard should not concern himself / herself with minor infractions, but should report gross traffic violations or dangerous behaviors that endangered students.

o Information required for reporting purposes: Model and make of vehicle Color of vehicle License plate number Description of incident Time of incident Direction of travel Pedestrians involved


• While on duty unsafe behaviors (continued)o

Pedestrians

If a guard observes students behaving unsafely near traffic, they should be counseled

on safe crossing techniques.

oIf a student doesn’t comply with a guard’s instructions, the guard shall take the student’s

name and report the incident to supervisor as soon as the shift ends.

Guards must report suspicious activity to their supervisor as soon as their shift ends, or

if the situation requires immediate attention – call the POLICE or SHERIFF.


• Suspicious Activityo

Guards should be alert to suspicious subjects in the area.

• Students may tell the guard of suspicious subjects. The guard should treat this information seriously,

but use good judgment.


• Suspicious Activity• Information required for

reporting persons:o Sexo Raceo Ageo Clothing descriptiono Hair coloro Height / weighto Direction of travel


Who can tell me?

• Sex • Race• Age • Clothing description• Hair color • Height / weight

Write it down!

In the event of an emergency at a crossing area, the guard should keep control of the situation and ensure the safety of the children.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

• Types of Emergencies: o Motor vehicle - pedestrian

crasho Motor vehicle - bicycle crasho Motor vehicle - motor vehicle

crasho Sudden illnesso Natural hazardso Man-made hazards

Iowa Adult School Crossing Guard Training Program Module 4 / Safety


• When an emergency arises:o Remain at your posto Stop crossing children o Maintain control of childreno Call 911o If there are victim(s)o Contact your supervisoro Provide incident information to

authorities if required

Your first priority is to protect the children from unsafe situations.


The American Red Cross offers courses in Responding to Emergencies, First Aid, CPR, and Bloodborne pathogens.

For information on American Red Cross training opportunities, contact your local chapter at:

http://www..org/en/where redcross

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Iowa Crossing Guard Training 3 Safety