Emergency Evacuations Procedure: Best Practices

Emergency Evacuations Procedure
Best Practices
Ensure that instruction in passenger safety, including student participation in emergency

evacuation drills, is an integral part of the school curriculum. Instruction should comply with state
requirements and/or Federal Highway Safety Guideline 17 and with 45 CFR 1310, as may be
applicable, and should include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) At least once each school semester, provide all students transported to and from schools in a
school bus or multifunction school activity bus with instruction in the location and operation of all
emergency exits. Also, provide supervised emergency exit drills to each student transported to or
from schools in a school bus or multifunction school activity bus.
(2) Before departure on each activity trip, provide all students transported in a school bus,
school-chartered bus or multifunction school activity bus instruction on the location of all
emergency exits and demonstrations of their operation. Instruction should include a general
review of safe riding practices, rules and procedures (SISBO 2018).
Emergency evacuation drills are required and should be conducted at least twice during each
school year. Records verifying that drills were conducted need to be kept on file. Students must
be prepared to evacuate in the event of a real emergency, such as danger of fire, drowning, or if
the bus is in an unsafe position. The emergency evacuation drills should be as close to the real
thing as possible. The drill should be discussed with the students prior to the day of the drill.
The drill should follow the evacuation procedures for the appropriate exits used. Stand facing
students and tell them they are having an emergency evacuation drill. Remind students to leave
books, lunches, etc. on the bus. The drill can be timed if you desire, but most important is that
the students learn to exit the bus calmly, orderly, and as quickly as possible. It is important that
they follow your directions. When the drill is over have the students get back on the bus. Spend a
few moments discussing the drill. Point out the good things that occurred and discuss the ways to
improve the drill.
Bus Evacuations
The primary responsibility of the school bus driver is to provide safe transportation for students.
Being involved in a traffic collision is always difficult. No driver expects a traffic collision or vehicle
breakdown. There is no such thing as an "on purpose" incident; almost every traffic collision is
"an accident, to some extent." All school bus drivers are instructed in the safe operation of the
school bus. Part of this operation is the safe evacuation of the bus in the event of a collision or
emergency.
REVISED 11/16/2018 Emergency Evacuation Procedures / Student Transportation / SDE / 1

The driver will evacuate the bus if:
 There is any indication that the bus is on fire or in danger of catching fire.
 The bus cannot be moved to a safe place out of harm’s way.
 A natural emergency requires evacuation.
 Any time the driver beliefs that the safety of the children is in jeopardy.
The most important part of a safe school bus evacuation is developing and practicing a safe plan
before an emergency actually occurs. Bus staff should have an emergency evacuation plan which
considers the individual capabilities and needs of each student; the type of behavior which might
be exhibited during an emergency evacuation; and the type of wheelchair or support equipment
being used for students.
Some issues to consider when establishing an evacuation plan:

 Which students are able to help, and to what extent?
 How to deal with individual emergencies such as seizures during the evacuation process
 Whether students should be evacuated in their wheelchairs or removed from their
wheelchairs before evacuation
 How to disconnect or cut wheelchair securement and occupant protection equipment,
including belts, trays, and other support equipment
 Identify students who may have a tendency to run away after an evacuations; evacuate
these students last
 Know the survival time of a student that requires life support equipment or medical care
procedures and if such a service can be interrupted or delayed during the evacuation
process. Plan accordingly.
Three methods of evacuating a school bus in emergency situations:

 Front door evacuation
 Emergency exit evacuation (rear, side, and roof hatches)
 Front and rear door evacuation
 Individual district policies will determine which of the evacuation plans will be used during a
drill.
 Evacuating Non-ambulatory Students from the Special Needs Bus
 Students who ride to and from school in wheelchairs or other mobile seating devices must
be given special consideration when it is necessary to evacuate them from a school bus,
either in a drill or in a real emergency.

 A good practice would be to develop written plans for the safe evacuation of students with
unique and special needs who are transported by school bus. It is essential that everyone on
the bus knows the plan of evacuation and clearly understands their role during an
evacuation.
Resource: Idaho’s School Driver Training Classroom Curriculum 2012, Sec. 11
Passengers on activity or field trips should receive emergency evacuation instructions prior to
departure. When evacuating the bus follow these procedures:
Evacuating through the front door:

 Set park brake.
 Turn off engine.
 Put transmission in reverse (manual transmission) or neutral (automatic transmission)
 Turn on four-way hazard lamps (if operable).
 Driver should stand and face students.
 Test front service door to see if it is working before making announcements.
 Get the student’s attention – speak clearly and loudly.
 Evaluate the situation. Determine if there are any injuries, and determine a safe waiting
area to move students to.
 Announce to the students to exit through the front, give the first aid kit, fire extinguisher
and reflective triangles to responsible students.
 Check to make sure all students are out.
 Assist the injured to the best of your abilities.
 Notify proper authorities.
Evacuating through the rear and/or side door:

 Steps 1 through 4 in the front evacuations need to be followed.
 Assign two “helpers” to assist students.
 Instruct the helpers to “sit” on the floor at the emergency door and “scoot” out of the door
onto the ground.
 One helper is positioned so that the emergency door will not swing against the students.
The other helper is positioned on the other side of door area.

 The helpers need to hold a hand open, palm upward and extended for the student to place
his/her hand on it. The other hand will support the upper part of the arm of the exiting
student.
 Students should “squat” at the rear door to eliminate the possibility of hitting their head.
 Have the student “drop” out of the bus. Never have the student “jump” out of the bus.
 Have them walk to the designated safe waiting area.
 Evacuate the bus, starting at the back row and continue to the front.
 Give first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and emergency triangles to the last two students after
they are out of the bus.
 Have the helpers assist you out of the rear of the bus.
 Assist the injured to the best of your abilities.
 Notify proper authorities.
Evacuating through the front and rear doors:

When evacuating through both the front and back doors at the same time, the driver must
determine which seats go out which exit and then follow the procedures outlined for both front
and rear door evacuations. Evacuation of handicapped and special needs students is addressed in
the section that deals with special needs children.
Resource: Idaho’s School Driver Training Classroom Curriculum 2012, Section 8
The driver should list the students that will be a problem in evacuation, by seat number, and list
recommendations for handling these students. This list should be in writing and posted in a
prominent location. Usually, outside help will be available very quickly and should assist only
under the direction of the driver. The driver should always remain calm and show authority. This
will greatly assist in handling the students.
Which students are able to help, and to what extent:

 Lower side lift halfway if operating.
 Release chairs one at a time and removed chair from bus by first lowering chair to the lift
and then to the ground.
 Electric chairs are too heavy for this. Remove the student from the chair and carry the
student out of the bus.

What can be done when rear or side emergency doors cannot be opened:
 Remove ambulatory passengers from the bus and send them to a safe location. Instruct
them to sit in a group.
 Remove wheelchair passengers from their chairs and carry them from the bus to a safe
location away from the bus.
Every bus staff person should be able to verbally articulate his/her emergency evacuation plan
upon request without hesitation. Many emergencies only allow three to five minutes to complete
an evacuation before possible serious injury to students might occur.
Evacuating Ambulatory Students from the Special Needs Bus:

Many states insist that all bus riding students experience a practical school bus evacuation drill as
part of a yearly lesson on school bus safety. This means that ALL students that ride a school bus
during the school year, for ANY reason, will usually take part in this drill.
 Such drills are usually scheduled by student transportation personnel and supervised by the
school administrator or his/her designee.
 School bus drivers should never attempt to schedule or conduct a school bus evacuation
drill on their own.
 Drills are usually conducted at school or on school property.
 All bus riding students, including those transported only on extracurricular trips, must
participate.
All students with disabilities should participate in bus evacuation drills. However, some students
with disabilities, because of their medically fragile condition, may not be required to physically
leave or be taken from the bus during a bus evacuation drill. School staff should determine a
suitable alternative preparation for the students, driver and school bus aide in these situations.
Check district policy on this particular guideline.
 The most important part of any safe bus evacuation or evacuation drill is developing and
following a plan of action in the event of an emergency, school bus collision, or vehicle
breakdown.
 Make sure that everyone on the bus is aware of what must be done in the event of a real
emergency.
 Always use extreme care during an evacuation or evacuation drill. Never allow students to
push or run. Never force students to jump from the bus during a bus evacuation drill. A bus
evacuation drill should be a learning experience for everyone.
 Remember, the planning and actions taken during a bus evacuation drill may one day save
lives.

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Emergency Evacuations Procedure

Ensure that instruction in passenger safety, including student participation in emergency

REVISED 11/16/2018 Emergency Evacuation Procedures / Student Transportation / SDE / 1

Some issues to consider when establishing an evacuation plan:

Three methods of evacuating a school bus in emergency situations:

REVISED 11/16/2018 Emergency Evacuation Procedures / Student Transportation / SDE / 2

Evacuating through the front door:

Evacuating through the rear and/or side door:

REVISED 11/16/2018 Emergency Evacuation Procedures / Student Transportation / SDE / 3

Evacuating through the front and rear doors:

Which students are able to help, and to what extent:

REVISED 11/16/2018 Emergency Evacuation Procedures / Student Transportation / SDE / 4

Evacuating Ambulatory Students from the Special Needs Bus:

REVISED 11/16/2018 Emergency Evacuation Procedures / Student Transportation / SDE / 5

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