Loading and Emergency Exit Procedures
This domain tests the sequence for loading and unloading students and the decisions required to evacuate a school bus quickly and account for everyone.
Loading sequence
Stop in a safe position, set the parking brake, and place the transmission in neutral or park according to the bus manufacturer's procedure. Open the door only after traffic is controlled and students are waiting at the 10-foot mark. Count students as they board and watch the handrail. Do not move until students are seated and the aisle is clear.
Unloading sequence
Set the brake, unload, and count students again. Students who must cross go at least 10 feet ahead of the bus and cross only on your signal after you have checked traffic. Keep the red lights and stop arm deployed until all students are clear of the roadway.
Emergency evacuation
Assess the hazard first. A fire, fuel leak, or stalled bus on railroad tracks calls for immediate evacuation; a minor breakdown may call for staying aboard. Announce the evacuation, choose the nearest safe exit, and send students at least 100 feet from the bus, upwind of a fire, to a designated assembly point. Take the emergency kit and roster, call 911, and account for every student. Use the front door, rear door, side windows, or roof hatches as conditions allow. For students with disabilities, follow the individual evacuation plan and assign helpers in advance.
Worked example
A bus stalls on railroad tracks. The correct response is to evacuate immediately through the nearest exit, move students away from the track, and call 911. Do not try to restart the bus while students remain aboard; the track is an unacceptable risk.
Traps
Using a rear exit when the hazard is at the rear, letting students cross behind the bus, failing to take the roster, and evacuating without a head count at the assembly point.