RENO, Nev. — A crisis situation is a shared event, which is why student transporters should take a holistic approach to provide for the care, welfare, safety and security of everyone involved, said Susan Keith of the Crisis Prevention Institute during a daylong pre-conference seminar at the 19th annual STN EXPO in Reno, Nev.

The seminar was based on CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training program that emphasizes early intervention and nonphysical methods for preventing and managing disruptive behavior on the school bus. It provided a framework of preventive techniques for school bus drivers, transportation personnel and human services professionals.

Some of the techniques included identifying the early stages of challenging behaviors, using nonverbal techniques to help prevent acting-out behavior and verbal strategies to de-escalate behavior. Attendees also learned personal safety techniques to protect themselves when students act out physically by kicking, biting or pulling hair.

The recommendations mainly focus on situations involving a student transporter and a student, but they also can apply when a student transporter must break up a situation between students.

Keith noted that transporters should pay attention to students' paraverbal communication — the sound, tone and cadence of their voice — as it is the vital link between their nonverbal and verbal actions. Effective paraverbal communication can help avoid a crisis situation from getting worse.

"Ultimately what you can control in that crisis is yourself," Keith said. "Our behavior affects their behavior."

Here are some tips presented at the workshop for crisis prevention:
1. Be emphathetic. "I understand why you're upset."
2. Respect personal space. "Is it OK to come into the room now?"
3. Permit verbal venting when possible. "Thanks. Now that you're done swearing, maybe I can help."
4. Set and enforce reasonable limits. "If you take your meds now, you can join the group for free time. If you wait, free time will be over."
5. Use physcial techniques only as a last resort. Is anyone in imminent danger? Use planned intervention only by trained, competent staff.