Evacuating the School Bus

1. Evacuating the School Bus

2. Background • More than 52 million elementary and secondary student bus trips occur daily. • An additional 5 million student bus trips for extracurricular activities take place daily. • Students who ride school buses sporadically are less familiar with bus layout and emergency exits than regular riders.

3. School Administrator Responsibilities • Work with experts to determine what situations require students to evacuate the bus (and when NOT to evacuate). • Schedule school bus evacuation drills.

4. Driver Responsibilities (1 of 2) • If bus evacuation is required, follow the school procedures to: • Secure the bus. • Determine the safest exit(s) and assembly area, based on the given situation.

5. Driver Responsibilities (2 of 2) • Maintain order and provide clear instructions. • Assign students to help, as needed. • Account for all students. • Use safety equipment, according to policy (e.g., fire extinguishers, first aid kit).

6. Student Responsibilities • Stay calm and follow the driver’s instructions. • Leave belongings behind. • Exit safely. • Use handrails. • Watch for broken glass, passing vehicles, or other dangers. • Move to the safe assembly area.

7. Bus Evacuation Resources www.ntsb.gov www.hhs.gov www.napt.org www.nasdpts.org www.stnonline.com

8. School Emergency Operations Plan What is our school policy on school bus evacuations? How is bus evacuation incorporated into the EOP and annexes? Are the procedures current?

9. Next Steps How can we improve our plans and procedures for school bus evacuations?