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The vehicles are the most regulated and inspected of all on our roads, and malfunctioning buses forcing emergency evacuations are rare. Bus fires leading to fatalities are even more rare.
But that statistical rarity doesn’t deter local school, fire and police officials from working year-round to prevent and prepare for all possible emergency scenarios that might impact the thousands of students transported each school day in Butler County.
School bus safety is a top priority, according to school officials and law enforcement.
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At an early age, evacuation drills begin, according to Middletown and Hamilton police departments.
The goal is to get all students off the bus in less than two minutes, said Middletown Police Officer Robyn Rawlins, a school resource officer and instructor for Middletown's summer safety program Safety Town.
Once out of the bus, students are taught to go at least 100 feet from the bus and wait for their driver or an official. The drills happen at least once a year involving the youngest students to seniors.
“It is essential for safety,” Rawlins said.
Hamilton Police Officer Kristy Collins expressed her “kudos” to the Madison bus driver and the students who put into real life what the drills teach.
“They are told how to get out many ways, depending on where the problem or danger is,” Collins said. “And they are told to be quick.”
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Collins said safety lessons for getting on and off the bus as well as sitting properly on the bus are often the focus of drills, but what to do in case of a crash or fire are just as important.
“Your heart just stops when you hear about a fire like the one in Madison,” she said.
In Butler County’s largest school system, each Lakota Schools’ class day sees 173 school buses transport an average of 11,000 students over 138 routes criss-crossing thousands of miles in West Chester and Liberty townships.
“The safety and security of our students is always our top priority at Lakota,” said district spokeswoman Betsy Fuller.
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“In addition to the evacuation and emergency plans, the state of Ohio provides, our drivers are trained in emergency procedures during their new driver class, and also take a re-certification class every six years. Emergency evacuation drills occur three times each year, including a front door, rear or side door and a split door evacuation,” said Fuller.
School officials in Lakota and other area districts said they train closely with local first responders.
“Our district safety committee, which includes not only district administrators but also our first responder partners from Liberty and West Chester townships, is always evaluating our safety and security protocols at Lakota, including transportation procedures,” she said.
“And all of our buses are equipped with cameras, two-way radios and GPS tracking devices. Our drivers are trained on how to secure their vehicle while getting our students to safety, including calling in the situation,” she said.
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