Emergency Evacuation and Safety Procedures
Emergency Evacuation and Safety Procedures - what the exam tests
This domain tests when to evacuate, how to move students to safety, and how to account for them afterward. Minnesota expects the driver to protect the 100-foot danger zone, take essential equipment, and keep students from drifting back toward the bus.
Evacuation decision
- Evacuate immediately for fire, smoke, a fuel leak, or a hazardous-materials spill.
- If there is no immediate danger, it may be safer to keep students aboard and call for help.
- Use the front door, rear door, side windows, or roof hatch as conditions allow.
The 100-foot rule
- Move students at least 100 feet from the bus and, for a spill, upwind and uphill.
- Take the keys, radio, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and student roster when possible.
- Account for every student by name and report missing students to responders.
- Keep students together and away from traffic and the wreckage.
Worked example
Smoke comes from the engine compartment. The driver stops, sets the brake, turns off the engine, and evacuates through the front door. Students are led at least 100 feet upwind. The driver takes the roster, counts students, calls 911, and reports the count. No one reboards to retrieve belongings.
Traps that cost marks
- Reboarding a smoking bus for personal items.
- Letting students stand beside the bus instead of 100 feet away.
- Forgetting the roster and failing to account for students.
- Opening the hood of a burning bus.
Key points
- Evacuate immediately for fire, smoke, fuel, or hazmat.
- Move students at least 100 feet away and upwind.
- Take keys, radio, extinguisher, first aid kit, and roster.
- Count students by name and report to responders.
- Prevent reboarding.