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Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Pupil Transportation Department

SCHOOL BUS EVACUATION DRILL

REAR DOOR EMERGENCY LESSON PLAN

PLAN #I

TITLE OF LESSON: School Bus Emergency Drill Instruction

                                                Identification and Location of Emergency Equipment

LESSON TIME:                    Three (3) to Five (5) Minutes

OBJECTIVE:             Each student must be able to locate and identify five (5)

pieces of emergency equipment to be used in a school bus emergency and be able to perform the proper procedure for a Rear Door Emergency Evacuation Drill.

Introduction:

This morning we are going to learn the proper procedures to be used in a Rear Door Emergency Evacuation and the location and proper use of five (5) pieces of emergency equipment to be used for increased safety on and off the bus in case of an accident.  The training you receive this morning may have to be performed by you if the driver is unable to give you direction due to being injured or incapacitated as a result of an accident.  This drill will assume that the driver is not hurt and in charge of the evacuation of the bus.  The drill will be timed.  If the evacuation is not performed satisfactorily, the students must perform the drill again.

The following steps must be performed to assure safe emergency evacuation from the bus and safe use of the following emergency equipment.

Step One:       Identify and Locate the Emergency Equipment and Any Hazards

Driver is to instruct the students of the location and use of the following pieces of emergency equipment.

1)         Fire Extinguisher - Location and use, how to remove the brackets.

2)         First Aid Kit - Location, how to remove from bracket.

3)         Reflectors - Location, how to assemble and placement.

4)         Radio - Location and use, placement out the window.

5)         Warning Lights/Hazard Lights - Location, and how to activate.

6)         Fuel Tank - Location of.

7)         Danger Zone - Location of.

Step Two:       How To Secure the Bus If the Driver Is Incapacitated

                        1)         Shut off the ignition key - turn key to “auxiliary” position.  (Key

must be in auxiliary position for radio to work).

2)         Set the parking brake.

3)         Activate hazard lights.

Step Three:    When and How to Evacuate a School Bus

                        1)         When to evacuate:

                                    a)         Fire or danger of fire.

                                    b)         Unsafe position of the bus on the roadway.

c)         Evacuate when students are safer outside the bus than inside the bus.

c)         Evacuate out front service door and rear emergency door

when there is free passage out both emergency doors and students are not exposed to any specific hazards.

e)         Students evacuate rear emergency door if front service door

is blocked, inoperable, or if potential hazards exist around front of bus.

f)          Students evacuate from service door if rear emergency

door is blocked, inoperable, or if potential hazards exist around rear emergency door.

g)         Students evacuate out windows and roof hatches when rear emergency door and front service doors are inoperable, blocked, or present hazards.

2)         How to evacuate:

a)         Explain students will evacuate from back of bus, row by row, upon signal from the driver.  Remind students they must move to a safe place away from the bus.

b)         Select two (2) helpers to be located at the rear door at ground level and one (1) helper to hold door open.

c)         Select one (1) leader to lead students (100) feet from the

scene of the accident or away from any hazard involving the accident scene and bus fuel tank.

d)         Select student to carry first aid kit off the bus.  (First aid kit will not be removed for drill).

e)         Select one student to assist other students evacuating from

inside the bus, i.e., hurrying students along and reminding students to duck when evacuating from the emergency door.

f)          Demonstrate the three (3) steps to exit the rear door.

            1)         SQUAT DOWN

            2)         HANDS/PALMS OUT

            3)         BEND OVER - STEP DOWN

            4)         (CAUTION) - Secondary students and tall

elementary students must be aware of the low clearance of the rear door bulk head.

g)         Explain that good organization is required to conduct this

drill.  Their cooperation is mandatory.  Their lack of cooperation may jeopardize their safety when an actual emergency situation arises.

Step Four:       Perform the Evacuation Drill Exercise

                        Driver will stand in front of bus and give signal for drill to begin.  Driver

will then leave bus and stand at back of bus to monitor drill.

1)         Have students file out and evacuate from rear emergency door, row

by row.

2)         Students should form quiet line.

3)         Reboard students so they can get their lunches, etc..

4)         Offload students for school from service door.

SCHOOL DISTRICT/KNIK ELEMENTARY ~ SCHOOL AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION:

Each school day, thousands of children are transported to and from Mat-Su schools.  Our number one priority in pupil transportation is the safety of our students. Occasionally our normal schedule is disrupted by weather conditions, which may make road conditions hazardous and generally unsafe for travel. In that event, bus routes may be delayed or cancelled, and schools may be closed. The following information is provided to answer questions regarding the School District's policies and procedures for school closure, road closure and suspension of school bus transportation. For more information, please contact MSBSD's Pupil Transportation Department at 373-2287.

How will the School District notify parents when schools will be closed or buses will be delayed?

We encourage students and parents to listen to KMBQ 99.7 FM for the latest school bus status reports. Announcements will begin as early as 5 a.m. and will be repeated periodically in the morning hours.  If there are no announcements, school buses will run regular routes as scheduled.

Announcements may also be heard on the following radio stations:

KNBA 90.3 FM; KMBQ 99.7 FM; KSKA 91.1 FM; KENAI 550 AM; KHAR 590 AM; KYMG 98.9 FM; KYAK 650 AM; KFQD 750 AM; KWHL 106.5 FM; KGOT 101.3 FM

What type of weather and road conditions will preclude school bus service and possibly require schools to be closed?

School bus service will be suspended and schools may be closed when the Glenn Highway, Parks Highway, Palmer/Wasilla Highway and other arterial roads and highways cannot be traveled safely by a school bus. Hazardous conditions may include excessive snow, ice, or unusually cold weather.

If school bus service has not been canceled, may parents assume that buses will travel the regular routes, picking up and discharging students at all regular bus stops?

Yes.  Buses will travel all regular bus routes, stopping at regular bus stops, wherever road conditions permit.

If a bus driver finds a portion of the regular route impassable either to or from school, how will the School District advise parents that students on this portion of the route cannot be picked up or discharged at their regular stop?

Parents will be advised of the designated pick up or discharge point through announcements on KMBQ 99.7 FM  radio during the morning and afternoon runs.  In addition, the Bus Contractor will contact as many parents as possible by phone. In the afternoon, middle school and high school students will be discharged at the designated point even though parents may not be at the designated point to pick them up.

Elementary students and students riding special buses will not be discharged from the bus unless the parent, or someone acting on behalf of the parent, is there to receive the student.  Students whose parents cannot be reached will be transported back to their respective schools until parents pick them up.

If school bus service is not provided due to inclement weather and parents are unable to transport their children, will their absence from school be excused? 

Yes.  Absences will be excused for students living in areas where bus service was not provided.  Parents are discouraged from taking risks when  attempting to transport children to school or to meet the bus at another location.

 Do road closure policies apply to special education bus transportation also?

Yes.

 In the event the Chief School Administrator announces a closure, what happens to all school sponsored activities?

All school sponsored activities will be canceled for that day including co-curricular activities and community school activities.  No travel to activities outside of the District will be allowed.  If road and weather conditions improve following a Friday closure, then activities may be held on Saturday and Sunday.  For those students already on an activity outside of our District, transportation will be provided back into our District to the previously designated drop off area.

 Who may parents call when they have questions regarding school bus transportation?

Parents may call the Mat-Su School District Pupil Transportation Office - 373-2287, First Student – 357-6327 OR 357-6328, Bunker - 495-6311, and Glacier View Transportation - 745-0948.

MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUPIL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
REGULATIONS GOVERNING PUPILS RIDING SCHOOL BUSES