Emergency Exits and Evacuation Procedures
The exam tests whether you can decide when to evacuate, operate every exit on your bus, and account for every student afterward. The bus is usually the safest place in a crash. Evacuation is for fire, hazardous-material release, a bus in water or on railroad tracks, or a position that exposes students to traffic.
Know the exits
- Rear emergency door: handle release, then push out; some have a locking bar.
- Side emergency door or window; roof hatches; emergency windows with a red release handle.
- Know how each works on your bus and check them during pre-trip.
Evacuation sequence
- Stop in a safe place, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, turn on hazard flashers.
- Call 911 and dispatch. Assign responsible older students to lead and to bring up the rear.
- Evacuate seat by seat using the buddy system; check the aisle, under seats, and the rear for anyone left.
- Take the first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and emergency kit if time allows.
- Move students at least 100 feet from the bus and upwind of fire; count them and keep them together.
Worked example
Smoke pours from the engine compartment at a rural stop. Evacuate: engine off, hazards on, students out the rear door, 100 feet away and upwind, count 38, call 911. Do not open the hood and do not let students return for belongings.
Traps
- Evacuating into traffic when staying aboard is safer.
- Not knowing how to release the rear door.
- Failing to check the back seats.
- Letting students wander or go back to the bus.