Emergency Evacuation Skills Training for Students on School Buses

Bus evacuation skills are among the vital survival skills provided to Vinsers by Vinschool Times City Primary School at the beginning of each school year.

Aimed at spreading awareness to mitigate risks during bus travel, the school imparts knowledge and information about dangers and consequences of being left behind in a vehicle. They instruct and practice evacuation skills in accordance with traffic safety regulations. The school successfully organized a training session for Vinser right in the schoolyard, with the participation of teachers and first-grade students.

During the training session, Vinsers lined up to board the bus one by one to familiarize himself with the basic emergency equipment on the bus and to practice handling situations when trapped on the bus. Skills for emergency evacuation on the bus include:

1. Stay Calm: In an emergency, it’s crucial to remain calm. Vinsers are taught to observe the bus windows—some have buttons or handles that allow them to be opened for escape.
2. Unlock the Driver’s Door: Even if the bus is locked from the outside, there’s a door next to the driver’s seat that can still be opened from the inside. Vinsers practice climbing onto the driver’s seat and exiting through that door.
3. Use the Horn: If the door can’t be opened, students are instructed to press the horn continuously. The horn works even when the bus is turned off, as it draws power directly from the battery.
4. Activate Hazard Lights: Hazard lights have their own power source. Vinser students learn to press the triangle-shaped hazard light button near the steering wheel to signal for help.
5. Emergency Hammer: Most buses are equipped with an emergency hammer (with two pointed ends) attached to the interior wall. Vinser students practice using this hammer—it’s designed to break glass easily without causing harm.
6. Stand by the Front Windshield: If possible, students should stand near the front windshield and signal for help.
7. Call for Help: Vinser students are encouraged to use their phones to call family members or dial the emergency number 113.

At the conclusion of the training session, Vinsers were equipped with essential skills for evacuation and confident in handling simulated scenarios of being trapped in a vehicle. With the knowledge and practiced skills in bus evacuation acquired at school, Vinser will also become “a young ambassador” actively engaging in conversations with family and friends to promote and raise community awareness of emergency evacuation skills.