Post-Crash Procedures and Emergency Evacuation
Domain 2 covers what to do in the first minutes after a crash and when and how to evacuate. Oklahoma questions test scene protection, injury handling, warning devices, evacuation routes, and student accountability.
Post-crash priorities
- Stop, secure the bus, and check for injuries. Do not move a seriously injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire or a railroad track.
- Protect the scene: turn on hazard lights, set out reflective triangles at least 100 feet behind and ahead of the bus (500 feet on a divided highway or where a hill or curve blocks visibility), and keep students on the bus unless staying is more dangerous.
- Call 911, notify dispatch and the school, and record names, witnesses, and vehicle information. Do not discuss fault.
Evacuation decisions
Evacuate for fire or smoke, a fuel leak, a bus stopped on railroad tracks, a hazardous position in traffic, or any imminent danger. Use the nearest safe exit: front door, rear emergency door, side windows, or roof hatch. Students nearest the exit leave first; assign older students to help younger ones. Get everyone at least 100 feet from the bus and upwind, then count students and account for special-needs riders. Never leave students unattended.
Worked example
Smoke comes from the engine compartment while students are aboard. The driver stops, sets the brake, turns off the engine, and orders evacuation through the rear door because the front is near the smoke. Students assemble 100 feet upwind, the driver counts them against the roster, and only then uses a fire extinguisher if the fire is small and escape is clear.
Traps
- Opening the hood with a fire inside.
- Moving injured students without immediate danger.
- Forgetting a second count after evacuation.
- Leaving special-needs students on the bus.