Veck suffered a minor laceration to her forehead. Dana, who was sitting on my lap, was unharmed. Many other co-passengers were gravely hurt. Many suffered injuries along their jaws causing them to loose teeth. Others had wounds on their shins. Others on other parts of their faces. It was a bloody mess.
After that incident, I became more cautious when taking public utility vehicles. I mostly take the MRT when I can help it. As a word of precaution, here are some safety measures you can take while on-board a bus.
- Remain alert. It is important not to fall asleep or be drowsy. This can be difficult for some people so make sure you get enough 8 hours of sleep at home and not when traveling. You are in a better position to help yourself in an accident if you are awake then when asleep.
- Keep your cellphones fully loaded and charged. It is at emergency situations that you would need to contact a friend or family member for help. Also, ICE your phones. Label emergency contacts in your phones with I.C.E. so paramedics and other rescue professionals know who to contact in a case of emergency.
- Maintain proper posture. Whether sitting or standing in a bus, maintaining good posture allows your body to reflex into a more self-protective position when a split-second accident happens. Slouching is not advisable. It makes you more prone to injuries should a mishap occur.
- Speak up. As soon as you notice the bus driver over-speeding or swerving lanes where these are prohibited, notify the conductor or the driver right away. It is important to make them aware that there may be elderly, children or pregnant mothers on board and that it is their social responsibility to observe traffic rules for the safety of everyone.
- Inform your family. Especially for minors, let your parents know where you are at all times. Before leaving home, it is good to let them know what route you plan to take, and what time it takes for you to commute. Inform them once you've reached your destination. If there are changes in your itinerary, for example, you and your friends wish to stay at a Starbucks after you see the play, let them know as well. Make this a habit so they know immediately if something is wrong if this routine is broken.
- Know the nearest government hospitals in your area. When involved in an accident, it may be better to go to a government emergency hospital because of the medico-legal services they have. If you go to a private hospital, they will patch you up and ask you to go to public hospital because most private hospitals don't have medico-legals. You need a medico-legal report when you file a complaint at the Land Transportation Office.
- Pray. Ultimately, it is God who is our Mighty Protector. He is able to keep us safe from all harm. Psalm 16:1 says, "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge."
Travel on safe paths, my friends!
