Schools going back to in-person learning have been striving to do an excellent job of ensuring that learning environments are cleaned and disinfected correctly to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus or coronavirus. It is a good idea to sanitize the modes of transportation that carry students to and from school. Cleaning the school bus is one of the typical duties of PA school bus drivers, but now that there’s the need to sanitize them, too, before and after use of the vehicle.
Covid-19 is a highly contagious and fast-spreading virus. Familiar places, such as school buses, are havens for viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms. These facts alone make it urgent to remind drivers to clean the school bus and sanitize them entirely.
Before we look into ways to clean and sanitize the bus, first, let’s pinpoint areas with a high chance of contamination since these are the places where passengers and drivers tend to contact often.
Areas where contamination usually occurs (or is likely to occur):
- Stability bars
- Handlebars
- Steering wheel
- Windows
- Window ledges
- Hand rests
- Seatbelts
- Door handles
- Armrests
- Luggage racks
The virus can remain on the surfaces for various periods since each surface is made of different materials. So, it’s essential to do deep sanitation of these highly contaminated areas.
Preparation before sanitizing
Sanitizing involves using dangerous chemicals and potential exposure to bacteria, germs, and viruses. That’s why it is wise to use caution when dealing with this process. It’s important to closely follow all the proper procedures and guidelines to prepare the solution.
If the cleaning and disinfecting solution needs to be diluted, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Clean and wash yourself up before wearing your personal protective equipment (PPE). Wearing PPE is vital as some cleaning and disinfecting products can negatively impact users through exposure for more extended periods.
Clean and disinfect the bus
Once the solution is prepared adequately, inspect the bus and note any issues detected, such as torn seats, broken windows, dirty floors, etc.
While cleaning the school bus, it’s always best to clean the least soiled first and the most soiled last.
If the school bus has an air conditioner or heater, carefully clean the vents since viruses and bacteria are airborne.
Once you are done with basic cleaning, begin to disinfect the surfaces. While you want to sanitize as many areas as possible, it’s a good idea to do sanitation in areas where the contamination likely occurs (see list above).
You can use a 0.1% bleach solution for disinfection.
Install an air filtering system inside the bus since air filters help eliminate allergens and microorganisms circulating in the air to ensure protection and safety.
Additional tips to keep the bus clean and sanitized
- Wear gloves while sanitizing the bus and discard them immediately after use.
- Encourage each student to wash their hands with soap and water (the best way) or use sanitizer before entering the bus.
- Ensure the students practice social distancing when they’re seated on the bus.
- Having a bus sanitation checking option on your school bus tracking software can help make sure you won’t miss this procedure.
Read the article The School Bus is the Safest Way to Travel to and from School to understand why safety is so important. Promoting cleanliness and safety is imperative in student transport and is crucial during the ongoing pandemic. Give yourself a chance to become one of the PA school bus drivers and modern-day heroes by checking out our school bus job openings today!