How many hours do you spend sitting every day?

I asked myself that question when I read a story on Newsradio WTAM 1100’s website about a substitute school bus driver who suffered a heart attack and died while he was transporting students in Austintown Township, Ohio, last week.   

Authorities said that while 62-year-old Jack Cabot was driving the kids to school on Friday, he apparently suffered the heart attack and fell out of the driver's seat, according to the story. (The school bus then crashed into a tree. The students on board were treated for minor injuries.)

I am in no way suggesting that driving a school bus is hazardous to one’s health — there may have been many factors that contributed to Cabot’s heart attack. However, driving a school bus, like many office jobs, calls for people to be sedentary for many hours.

Although I don’t sit behind the wheel of a school bus for most of the day, between my work for SBF and activities outside of my job, I sit in front of a computer for the majority of the day. Sitting for that long takes a toll on me physically, particularly if I don’t take breaks to stretch and walk around. I would imagine that some of you in the pupil transportation community would say the same thing, whether you’re a transportation director or a bus driver.

Obviously, exercising outside of work can help people maintain good health. It can strengthen the body as well, helping to prevent injuries. I think that some form of on-the-job exercising or stretching can also be beneficial, especially if you don’t have a lot of time outside of work to devote to exercising. Here at SBF’s headquarters in Torrance, Calif., there are several people who go for walks together during their lunch breaks, and I’ve spoken to some people who say they do yoga stretches at their desks/in their cubicles.

Along with these activities, there are other things that pupil transporters can do to enhance their health and the health of their employees — several years ago, SBF published a feature on the topic.  

The operations mentioned offer employees health or wellness programs; a district in Poway, Calif., also has a health and wellness office. It works with the district’s health insurance provider to deliver health services. Employees have access to personalized telephone sessions with weight-management or tobacco-cessation experts, customized meal plans and exercise routines, and discounts for gym memberships.   

Are there any programs or practices in place at your operation to promote good health, both for you and your employees? If so, I’d be interested to read about them. Leave a comment below or send an e-mail to info@schoolbusfleet.com.  

Until next time,

Kelly Roher
Senior Editor