Why are my kids jumping out of the bus?
A part of being the safest vehicle on the road is to plan for events that might happen. An emergency situation can happen at any time. It could be a medical emergency to a student on the bus, an electrical fire, or a stalled school bus. Knowing what to do can be the difference in an outcome.
A requirement of a school district or school bus contractor is to complete two school bus evacuations each year. The first one should be completed during the first full week of the school year. The second evacuation should be completed during the month of March.
As a general rule, student safety and control can best be accomplished by keeping students on the bus, if it does not expose them to unnecessary risk to injuries. The decision to evacuate must be based on the possibility of imminent danger to the students as determined by the driver.
A Bus Driver has the responsibility to determine the best type of evacuation:
Front – Rear – Side – Window – Roof – Combination
Evacuation Procedures: Be Prepared and Plan Ahead
When possible, assign two responsible, older student assistants to each emergency exit. Teach them how to assist other students off the bus. Assign another student assistant to lead the students to a safe place after evacuation.
Recognize that there may not be older, responsible students on the bus at the time of the emergency. Emergency evacuation procedures must be explained to all students. This includes ensuring that they know the location of and operation of various emergency exits, and the importance of listening and following instructions.
If a rear evacuation is in the best interest of safety.
- Notify transportation office if time permits.
- Turn off the bus engine and set brake.
- Activate emergency flashers.
- Stand up, face the students and tell them this is a rear door bus evacuation.
- Instruct students to take nothing with them.
- Make sure the vehicle is in neutral or park.
- Instruct a student in the rear of the bus to open the emergency door.
- Have two students leave first and stand outside to assist students off.
- Driver should stand at the rear door to help assure student safety.
- Driver or assistant make sure no students remain on bus.
- Direct students to the nearest point of safety at least 100 feet off the road.
- Set out reflectors or triangles as needed.
- Stay with students and remain calm until emergency resolved.
Some children may be afraid.
It may not seem high at first glance, but after standing at the back door for many years and looking down at hard pavement, there has never been much of a desire to jump. To ask students who may be new to riding the bus, to leave everything behind, and jump from the back door of a school bus, could be a frightening experience to a young child. At kindergarten orientation each year, it was in all of our best interests to not scare students for their first ride on the school bus. But since we would need to have an evacuation during the first week, I thought it was important to at least prepare them for the coming week.
The frog on the bus.
Freddy the frog leaped onto the cement wall to join his friend Felix as their keen ears heard the rumble of the school bus coming down the road. The blinking yellow lights were flashing as it slowed. The driver applied the brake when the lights turned red and both frogs got ready to jump. The two students waiting at the bus stop were laughing together and did not notice the small frogs move closer. The school bus came to a complete stop and the red lights started to flash. The children waited until the driver gave them a big smile and wave before they moved to the bus. The door opened and the students greeted the driver while they moved to their assigned seats, Freddy and Felix leaped together onto the bottom step. Because there are three steps, the driver did not notice, and both frogs waited silently as the school bus pulled away. The bus interior was still dark as the sun started to rise in the sky. With the driver’s attention focused out the front window, Freddy took the opportunity to climb another step before hopping into the main aisle. Freddy thought he was safe, until Sara dropped her book bag and came face to face with the frog. Her loud and piecing scream, together with her finger pointed in the direction of Freddy made the entire bus aware there was a frog on the bus. Since frogs don’t belong on a school bus it can cause a lot of excitement. At the same time, a frightened Felix jumped on the top step and startled the driver, who thought the bus was invaded by frogs. With both frogs located at the front door of the bus, the driver decided to use the back door and evacuate the students.
Because after all… “Who wants to share a seat with a frog?”
