3541.35 - Transportation - Procedures for Emergencies/Safety

Procedures to be Followed in the Event of an Accident to a Bus

1. In the event of an accident (any kind of impact) the driver or bus management shall contact, by radio or other means as soon as possible, the Office of the Superintendent and inform them of the location and information on injuries, if any. If the driver is unable to contact the bus management, he/she shall contact the police. The driver shall remain at the accident scene until a representative arrives from the office.
2. If necessary, dispatch or bus management will immediately contact emergency medical services. Anyone in need of immediate medical attention and/or hospitalization, they will be taken to the nearest hospital.
3. The driver, officers at the scene, and/or administrators on the scene, will take student names, seating arrangements, and provide police with dates of birth and addresses.
4. Bus drivers are not to release students until directed by an administrator or police.
5. Parents of students in need of medical attention will be notified as soon as possible by a school district administrator. An administrator, at an appropriate time, may send written correspondence to parents briefly describing the situation. Initially, only information pertaining to location, date, time, and seriousness of reported injuries should be transmitted.
6. Bus management will arrange, if necessary, alternate transportation from the scene of the accident to home or school as appropriate.

Policy adopted:   April 4, 2017 
 NEWTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Newtown, Connecticut

 
R3541.35

Business/Non Instructional Operations

Procedures for Emergencies; Safety - Transportation

Procedures to be Followed in the Event of an Accident to a Bus

If a school bus is involved in a traffic accident, the following procedures shall be followed:

1. In the event of a serious accident, central office and the appropriate school(s) are to be notified immediately by the bus contractor identifying bus route numbers and location. Any bus or van involved in an accident will remain at accident scene until a representative from the bus contractor arrives.
2. If the bus is en route to a school, the students will, upon arrival at school, be examined by the school nurse before returning to class. If injuries require further examination, the students will be immediately transported to the nearest hospital.
3. If a bus is en route from school and an accident occurs, the students will be examined by the ambulance service, if it is the decision of the representative from the bus contractor. If further examination is required, the students will be immediately transported to the nearest hospital. The representative from the bus contractor can make the decision to continue the bus route if it was a minor accident.
4. Bus drivers are not to release anybody until all students and drivers have been accounted for and released by appropriate medical staff and the bus contractor’s representative.
5. All parents of students in need of medical attention will be notified as soon as possible by school officials.
6. The bus contractor will be responsible for supplying transportation from the scene of accident to home for students who have been released. 
7. The school Principal or designee will be responsible for having staff available on the scene for the purpose of identification of students.

Regulation approved:   April 4, 2017   

NEWTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Newtown, Connecticut

Business/Non Instructional Operations

Safety - Transportation

School Bus Involved Traffic Accident

1. In the event of a traffic accident (any impact) when one or more children are on board, the bus driver shall immediately call 911 and request the police and EMS to respond to the scene. The driver shall then contact the bus company by radio or other means as soon as possible, and provide the accident location and information on injuries, if any. The driver shall remain at the accident scene until a representative arrives from the bus company unless he/she is in need of immediate medical attention and/or hospitalization.
2. Bus company management will immediately contact the Office of the Superintendent and inform him/her of the location of the traffic accident and provide information on injuries, if any. 
3. Central Office will contact the involved school administrator and inform him/her of the location of the bus-involved traffic accident and provide information on injuries, if any. The school will dispatch a staff member to the scene of the accident to assist as appropriate.
4. Unless circumstances (safety/security related) dictate otherwise, the driver and all children should remain seated on the bus and await the arrival of police and EMS.
5. If possible, the driver should record student names and seating arrangements while awaiting the arrival of police and EMS. The bus company will provide the police with all student information required to complete the accident report, including dates of birth and addresses. 
6. Bus drivers shall not release students from the scene of the accident unless directed to do so by a school district administrator or police.
7. Parents of students in need of medical attention will be notified as soon as possible by a school district administrator. An administrator, at an appropriate time, may send a written correspondence to parents providing only the location, date, time, and level of seriousness of injuries related to the school bus accident.
8. Bus company management will arrange, if necessary, alternate transportation for students from the scene of the traffic accident to home or school as appropriate.
9. If the bus is enroute to a school at the time of the traffic accident, the students will, upon arrival at school, be assessed by the school nurse before returning to class.

Policy adopted:   April 4, 2017 

Policy revised:   October 2, 2018   

NEWTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Newtown, Connecticut