Bus Drivers Conduct Mock School Bus Evacuation Drills

Bus drivers explain to the students the proper procedures for safely evacuating the school bus in the event of an emergency. The students practiced how to exit the bus from the rear door.

 SCHOOL BUS EVACUATION

Adapted from “A Guide for School Bus Drivers” issued by the NCDMV School Bus Traffic and Safety

WHEN TO EVACUATE:

Normally, passengers are safer inside the bus. For a normal breakdown, the students should be kept inside the bus.

If the bus is located where there is a high risk of a collision, such as:

• • Near a blind curve

  • Just over the crest of a hill

  • On a railroad track

  •  OR

There is some danger that threatens the passengers, such as

• • Fire or something threatens the passengers, such as smoke in any part of the bus

  • Danger of being submerged in water

  • The bus has rolled or tipped over

  • The bus is in danger of rolling or tipping over

YOU WILL NEED TO ORGANIZE A CAREFUL, ORDERLY EVACUATION OF YOUR SCHOOL BUS

Evacuation Procedure

1.   Park the bus as close to the shoulder of the road as possible

• • Turn hazard lights on    

  • Set the parking brake

  • Turn the engine off

2.   Stand facing the rear of the bus

3.   Give the command: “Remain seated; prepare to evacuate.”

4.   Turn toward the front of the bus.

5.   Move backwards to the first occupied seat.

6.   Starting with either the left or the right seat:

• • Touch the shoulder of the person nearest to the aisle to indicate that the passengers in that seat are to move off.

  • Keep the passengers in the seat opposite in their seat by holding the hand palm out in a restraining gesture until the aisle is clear.

  • Move out the passengers in the opposite seat, using the same signal as above

7.   Move backwards down the aisle, repeating this procedure at each seat until the bus is empty.

8.   Check the bus from the very back seat to the front, making sure it is empty.

9.   Have evacuating students move to a safe distance (100ft) and keep them there as a group, away from any dangerous area.

10. Continue to check for students while removing the fire extinguisher or first aid kit, if needed.

11. Call or have someone call the fire department, the garage and the school, as necessary.  

A fire at the front of the bus may make the front entrance unusable and an alternate route of evacuation necessary. Normally, the front entrance will be available, but the emergency door can be used as the primary exit during an emergency.

Evacuation through both doors is fastest, with the rear monitor working forward seat by seat and the driver working backward seat by seat.

The windshield and rear windows can also be pushed out to facilitate evacuation. If the bus is on the side, use the roof hatches as well as the emergency doors on the up side to evacuate students.

Student reminders during an Emergency Evacuation

Listen to the driver's instructions for the correct exit.

Be calm, quiet and don't panic.

• Leave your belongings behind.

• Exit seat by seat alternating rows.

• Leave the bus quickly without pushing, or shouting.

• Walk to a safe place and stay together.