District Students Practice Bus Safety Drills
(Ferndale Public Schools Fanout, Oct. 1, 2010)
Ferndale Schools students grades K-8 practiced proper bus safety with bus drivers this week. The District Transportation Department makes sure students go through these drills once a year, as a precautionary measure, to ensure our students know how to respond in case of a bus crisis.
A fleet of buses visited Roosevelt, Coolidge, Kennedy and FMS to practice and reinforce bus safety. An emphasis was placed on danger zones around the bus and the importance of staying out of those areas (directly in front and behind the bus, and near the back tires – all blind spots for the drivers).
After focusing on danger zones, the drivers talked to the students about when and why they might need to do an evacuation (accident, fire, mechanical problems, driver becomes ill, etc).
Each driver showed the students where all the exits are, and how to open them. The students were reminded to open an emergency exit only if they are directed to do so by their driver. Students were also instructed on how to use the microphone system to get a hold of the dispatcher, in case the bus driver has fallen ill, or is unable to make the call.
Drivers taught their students how to do a front door evacuation. Students practiced having leaders and helpers (those who help students off the bus, and lead them away to a safe place), and getting off the bus quickly, quietly and efficiently. On occasion, when dropping off in the morning, at any given building, the drivers may run an impromptu front door evacuation.
Transportation Supervisor Dee Petri said, “We are all here to keep children safe. If you asked any bus driver what the purpose of their job is they would say to get the children to and from school in a safe manner.”
Ms. Petri also encourages parents of daily bus riders to take the time to meet their children’s driver, know what bus their children ride on, and to support and reinforce the bus rules with their children. If anyone has any questions regarding bus drills or what their student should do during a bus crisis, please call the Transportation Department at 248/586-8890.
Thank you to the Ferndale Public Schools for making their weekly Fanout available to Ferndale 115 News Readers.