Pocono News Section

School Buses Sprayed for Swine Flu

School Buses Sprayed for Swine Flu - Friday, October 9, 2009 at 5:40PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Friday, Oct 9, 2009 @ 05:40pm EDT

JENKINS TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY -- Donna Grodis works for the Yatesville Bus Company here and had plenty of time to wipe down school buses with disinfectant spray. That's because the Pittston Area School District canceled class - after more than one-third of the high school students stayed home sick Thursday.

"We bought 40 cans and gave each one to our drivers," said Grodis, office manager and driver. "We told them to spray before the first group got on the bus, and as they got off, spray, and keep spraying."

"I think they should do it," said Julie Carmody of Pittston. "And i think it should probably be an everyday occurence."

"I think it's a good idea," said Susan Reilly, a 6th grader at Wyoming Area. "Because then you don't have to worry about getting sick and missing school."

The Yatesville Bus Company also ordered a new disinfectant aimed at killing the H1N1 virus. It's residual and lasts for five days at a time.

Grodis says it takes the drivers only about an extra ten minutes to wipe down the entire bus, and it's time well-spent. She says with the swine flu scare expected to continue, this wipe-down is becoming more and more routine. It's so common now, that the coffee cup holder has become the cleaner holder.

"You've got to figure this way, if you're sick, it's going to cost you," said Grodis, who spent $180 on 40 Lysol cans. "It's actually doing the drivers good, too. Because the drivers are protecting themselves."

They're protecting students and bus drivers at a cost of just $5 a can -- a small price for staying healthy.