Safety First! Staying Safe While Travel Training Welcome & Introductions Deané Rosen . Manager, Mobility Management . Regional Transportation Authority Nathan Graeff . Regional Manager, Travel Training . MTM, Inc. Why Discuss Trainer & Trainee Safety? . Keep trainees & travel trainers safe . Help ease trainees’ apprehensions . Educate parents, guardians & care takers . Good agency practice to have safety policies & procedures in place Assessing for Training Readiness Pre‐training assessment: . Understanding individual’s abilities & disabilities . Understanding individual’s family/social support . Understanding how the neighborhood effects safety . Understanding barriers to travel . Understanding the individual’s safety & transit skills Trainee Skills SAFETY SKILLS TRANSIT SKILLS Awareness of personal space Tell & keep time Understanding of basic orientation Read a bus map or schedule concepts & landmark recognition Locate & navigate to bus stop Ability to recognize & respond to Recognize bus numbers dangerous situations Pay fare Ability to communicate & engage in Board & alight bus acceptable social behavior Recognize landmarks Knowledge of his/her mobility aide Ability to ask questions Street crossing safety Understanding of rules/laws Emergency skills Remember & implement a backup plan Additional Considerations Client History Health Information . Are there areas of the city or . If trainee has mental health routes a trainee should avoid concerns, know the best way due to previous issues? to react to them . Does the trainee have a . Due to the nature of their behavior plan in place? disability, may need to avoid • Does that carry over to overcrowded places community activities? . If medical & medication information is collected, consider if it effects independent travel Home Visit Safety Procedures Initial Meeting . Share your calendar with . Wear identification–use colleagues or supervisors breakaway clasp/retractable clip . Include as much information as . Ask permission before entering possible in your calendar: . Practice professional boundaries address, route, trainee’s info, . Identify exits, additional people, emergency contact, arrival time animals & suspicious activity . If you have concerns, text or call a . Sit as close to exits as possible colleague or supervisor when arriving & departing . If you feel threatened or unsafe, reschedule at a different location . Ask ahead about animals, how to or take a colleague to next visit enter home, callbox number, etc. Community Safety . Schedule assessments & trainings before dusk . Driving to appointments may be acceptable . Complete a Route & Scout before first training • Google Streetview can be helpful . Familiarize yourself with the fixed route system & neighborhood . If area presents risk, consider alternate locations & routes Community Safety . Identify businesses/high traffic areas to go if you feel unsafe . Practice how to handle emergencies with your trainee . Always have emergency contact information for you & your trainee . Be aware of your surroundings . Wait at well‐lit areas near businesses or high traffic areas Community Safety . Walk an extra block to avoid questionable areas . At night, wear visible/reflective clothing . Appear confident & avoid distractions . Avoid using tablets, mp3 players & smartphones • Headphones signify electronic device & can be distracting . Keep one hand on your bag & other belongings . Leave expensive bags, jewelry & watches at home . Chances of theft are higher when sitting near exits Community Safety . Check weather & dress appropriately . Discuss what your trainee should do if you get separated . Separate & pre‐count money or have fare card accessible . Never carry wallet in back pocket or accessible bag pocket . Check if there’s money left on fare card • When adding money, use credit card or small bills . Discourage trainees from having multiple bags Creating a Backup Plan: Planning Steps . Provide trainees with lanyard, holder, or laminated cards that include route, contact numbers & question cards . Identify safe places & safe people where trainees can ask for assistance . Practice what information to share & how to ask for help from a trusted person . If possible, take pictures of each trainee to keep on file Creating a Backup Plan: Resolution . Was trainee able to identify the problem & fix it? . Know your agency’s policy or steps on how to handle a similar situation Retrace Call primary Call client route contact Call Notify Notify emergency transit authorities contact personnel Street Crossing Statistics Street Crossing Safety: Instruction . Have trainee recognize . It’s not just streets: be crosswalk symbols & signs careful at railroad crossings, . Demonstrate proper driveways, alleys & garages method of crossing streets . Plan for “what if” scenarios . Always stop before like construction, lack of stepping into crosswalk sidewalk & power outage . Remind trainees to make . Texting & browsing the eye contact with drivers internet while walking don’t mix Street Crossing Safety: Observation . Have the trainee demonstrate safe street crossing after you have worked with them . “Arm’s reach” principal . Observe from afar while fading back/out to confirm their knowledge & awareness Stranger Danger: Instruction . Clear definition of what is right & wrong . Keep personal conversations to a minimum . What is socially acceptable? . Talk about personal space • What to do if someone invades it . Explain importance of keeping personal information safe . Scenarios of how trainee might be approached by a stranger . Point out safe places & routes Stranger Danger: Observation . During fade back/ out phase, observe interactions they have with others . Stranger Danger test Safety on Public Transit . “If you see something, say something” . Alert driver/conductor if threatened . Point out safety features • Exits, fire extinguishers, emergency call boxes, evacuation signs, intercom buttons, security cameras, etc. Know your transit system’s emergency procedures • Attend a training to familiarize yourself with emergency evacuations or preparedness . Keep personal belongings close & safe Safety on Public Transit . Remain alert & aware of your surroundings & other passengers . Educate trainees on proper boarding method • Alighting passengers first . Avoid adding money to fare card on buses, streetcars, or other moving fare box locations . Encourage trainee to sit towards the front of the bus or in the first train car . Discuss the difference between a problem & emergency Bus & Streetcar Safety . Wait for bus or streetcar to pull away before crossing the street . Point out landmarks & safe places/businesses along the route . Discuss how trainee can move to front of the vehicle if bothered . Demonstrate how to ask the driver or operator for assistance Rail Safety . Point out where maps, schedules & information booths are located . Avoid empty cars, especially after dusk . Discuss what to do in an evacuation at tunnel, bridge, platform, etc. Demonstrate how to ask the station manager or supervisor for assistance . Identify possible safety concerns such as escalators, edge of platform, crowded walkways, train tracks, etc. Travel Training Process . Have you observed the trainee demonstrating the task successfully at least twice? • Street crossing • Interaction with strangers • Awareness of surroundings • Money management • Responsibility with personal belongings • Asking for assistance . Does your agency have a safety checklist? Completing Travel Training Documentation Determination . If you didn’t document it, it never . Travel training isn’t for everyone; happened don’t cut corners just to graduate . Assessment, consent form, . Give the trainee & their daily/weekly progress notes, caregivers specific goals to work completion form, etc. on if they did not successfully complete travel training & re‐ assess them at a later date . If successful, provide a letter or document to caregivers explaining topics discussed, skills demonstrated, route details, etc. Unexpected Situations . We can’t prepare for every scenario . Who to contact for assistance or during an emergency . The difference between an emergency & needing help . Emergency information & directions on public transit vehicles . How to recognize what is safe & unsafe . How to safely remove themselves from unsafe situations Unexpected Situations . Be aware of trainee’s level of ability • Are they able to contact someone? • Can they remove themselves if there is a danger? . Do not expect them to do something you have never taught them about . Remember that in stressful situations everyone reacts differently Unexpected Situations . Know your trainee’s emergency information • Emergency contact information • Illnesses, limitations, important medications, etc. • Allergies to foods & medications • Their route (you can narrow down where they may be) . Practice, practice, practice! • Repetition is the best way to make sure something is learned • Go over the plan with them until it is second nature Professional Liability . Pre‐Training Consent Form • Trainee/legal guardian understand trainee could become separated from trainer, personal property could be damaged or lost, or an accident/crime could happen . Do not give advice outside of travel training scope . Complete incident reports & submit to legal . If an individual decided to file a liability claim, legal department would handle from there Agency Checklist: Possible Policy Topics . Check‐in during home visits & trainings •