Safety Tips Archives - trackschoolbus

What To Do When A School Bus Catches Fire

Posted on June 18, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Bus transportation is considered as one of the safest modes of transit for students. But, a fire resulting from a collision or failure of a component puts lives at risk and can have an enormous impact on operational costs as well.

There are diverse reasons that can cause fire in a school bus – due to mechanical failures, wires got loose and rub against engine parts, overload of circuit boards, explosion of tires or even leaks that release inflammatory fluids.

In most cases, school bus fires start in the engine area, running gear, or wheel area of the vehicle. Studies analyze that the most frequent cause of ignition was failure of equipment or heat source.

Along with transporting students safe to and from school, school bus drivers and attendees may have to handle even certain emergency situations such as a bus crash, accident or fire.

In such a situation, they are responsible to supervise all students and follow procedures for the appropriate release of students

According to the U.S. government statistics, on an average – 379 school bus fires happen each year, though deaths are rare from such fire incidents.

Drivers in school bus must be well trained by the school district board to take immediate action, if they doubt any smoke or fire in any portion of the bus or even if the bus is near an existing fire and they are unable to move the bus away.

In such a scenario, take quick actions such as

Stop the bus in a safe area
Vacate the bus
Call Bus Dispatch number
Use fire extinguisher

Evacuate the bus

Organize students for a transfer to another school bus. School bus fire evacuation drills and training is important for drivers to rescue students from a burning bus.

Such drills can also help students to stay prepared in safely escaping from the bus. Students will be able to know when and how to evacuate as well as the relevance of evacuating in an orderly way.

To evacuate the bus, drivers should –

Call for bus dispatch, shut off motor, set brake and remove key
Decide the right evacuation route, which ever you think is appropriate – let that be exit door, front or side doors, roof hatch or even windows.
Ensure that the attendees are helping students to get off safely and assemble everyone together
In case of time shortage, instruct students to leave their bags and other personal belongings on the bus and make sure that everyone has left
Leave the bus only after all the students leave and remember to take your cell phone as well as the first aid kit
Follow the correct student release procedures and do not re-enter the bus until recommended by the authorities
Follow correct transfer procedures, in case if you are transferring students to another bus. Ask them to move to that bus in an orderly manner, drivers should stay alert until the transfer is complete.
Designate older students to help the young ones in evacuation

Use fire suppression systems

Fire suppression systems can help to extinguish fire immediately. Such advanced systems release a mist or powder to extinguish the fire, when the temperature reaches a certain level.

Installation and testing of such fire suppression systems in engine compartments is now getting mandatory in buses as well as coaches.

These systems –

Provide extra time for students with disabilities to leave the bus
Can put out fire for rear-engine buses, even before driver might be aware of the incident

Maintenance staff and supervisors should also undergo thorough training during installation of such systems.

School districts can take certain steps to prevent such incidents such as replacing old buses with new ones, either by purchasing them or by getting benefits from a lease program.

Drivers should be recommended to inspect their school buses daily before every trip, check for leaks and make sure that all exit doors open perfectly, making the bus ready for any such emergency situations.

10 School Bus Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist

Posted on May 10, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Unlike other transportation fleets, school buses have an enlightening purpose that demands special care; for it is the wagon that the future of our kind travels every day.

So, it’s a crime to look at it recklessly. School buses are more of a classroom than a wagon, where pupils learn the rules of the roads lively as well. So, it is essential to keep it on the lines of rules all around.

Fortunately, our rules and regulations are very concerned about our young growing generation. The rigorous set of laws and practices could instill the importance of keeping the school buses fit and flair all the way.

As the teamwork ofmolded machines and parts, every vehicle will get wear and tear over time, no different are school buses. So, it is necessary to inspect the vehicles as many times as possible. Specifically, before heading for a trip with the children.

Since we cannot forecast the condition and the life of machine parts, either we have to dare to meet any trials across the way,or we have to make sure our vehicle is fit enough for any terrain. Sadly, we cannot go with the former in the case of school buses.

Hence, a thorough pre-trip inspection can assure that the school bus is working and ensure a smooth and comfy journey for the kids all the way.

Improve-reputation-of-your-school-Bus-Service

Notably, it is the drivers who are the responsible hands for taking care of all about the wagons, and there is some list of factors that we have to check before a trip.

So, let’s check what the pre-trip inspection checklists for school bus are.

1. Body Inspection

There are chances of slack connections and broken shields and window panes, scratchy bumpers and shaded lamps, blurry paint on our school bus. Giving a glance across the body of the bus will help us to figure out the visible damages, dents,scratch on it.

Body inspection spans all the way around the bus including, the glossy mirrors, grills, window panes, tires, lamps, wipers, shields, wheel nuts, reflectors and whatever visible to our naked eye.

Moreover, it enables us to catch out any part that is not working properly. Just remember we cannot leave out anything at least.

2. Engine Check

It is more likely a full heart check-up, so it takes time and patience. The engine consists of numerous parts, so it needs an in-depth analysis to figure out issues hiding inside.

The whistling valves, tubes, wires, chamber, seals, caps, lube tanks, engine chamber, filters, plugs, radiator, battery, pistons, spark plugs, timing gears, conveyor, shafts, etc. involves in an engine check.

So, any of it hesitate to work with the others in abruptly, the whole system stop working. Moreover, there are many forms of issues that can arise in an engine.

Leaking oils, broken seals, settled grits, blocked vents are some of the common persistent problems occurs on the engine. Hence, we have to spare some moments to understand the exact issues going on the engine.

Plus, we have to have a conventional understanding of the variations about the sounds, vibrations, and unusual precipitations to find the problems intact.

3. Light and horn

Lightsare critical elements in school buses since it has to take cuts and turns more often. So, it is essential to look over the lights, indicators and tail lamps thoroughly. If it requires any repair or replacement, we have to point out it to the mechanic immediately.

The list of lights in a school bus is a bit higher than the common wagons, and each one in it shall maintain accurately. The connections, brightness, wiring also have to take into inspection before every trip.

The same actions have to be followed humbly on the horns as well. Importantly, we have to check the capacity of the battery, for these parts are relying on the battery vastly. Any unusualbehaviors should repair immediately before the journey.

4. Gears and pedals

When the engine propels the pistons and shafts vigorously,and the gears, levers,andpedals failed to transport it to wheels, everything goes in vain. Hence, the prominence of gears and pedals are not less to any other parts.

To avoid unexpected troubles during the trips, we have to inspect the gears, brake, and clutch and accelerate pedals regularly and have to repair and maintain it accurately. Remember always, “Prevention is better than cure.”

5. Lubrication

Lubrications are like a kind of unavoidable catalyst in vehicles machine operation. Probably, the drivers know how the wagons crave for it when they run short of lubricationeverytime. Hence, for the proper functioning of machine parts and longer life of vehicles, it is essential far and wide.

So, we have to check all parts that require ample amount of lubrication across the vehicle. Primarily, for the moving pedals, rotating joints, and shafts, steeringcolumns,and attachments, etc.

Moreover, the lubricants that we use for the buses also matter to tap the efficiency of vehicles. So, always keep an eye over the parts and thevarieties of oils we chose to apply.

6. Emergency and Safety Equipment’s

The safety of school bus is an imperative factor of concern. Since we cannot foretell the things ahead in our roads, every school bus must equip with all safety and emergency measures to handle any situation seamlessly. Also, the driver and other vehicle staffs have to train to operate the equipmentquite well either.

Before every trip, checking the emergency and safety kit is a worthy practice. The fire extinguishers, first aid box, warning hazard triangles, spare parts, and emergency exit door and other essential safety measures that are acting up irregular and suspicious have to be replaced appropriately.

7. Meters and Gauges

Meters and Gauges are vital counterparts in all vehicles. The fuel levels, temperature, pressure, and speed are measured by the meters and gauges that are fixed on the driver panel. Hence, it is necessary to keep it up for conscious driving.

Any defect on it can cause massive misconceptions and disrupt the safe driving. So, always remember to check the working of meters and gauges accurately. Also, carryout the recommended repair/replacement timely.

8. Wheels

These tubular synthesized rubber rolls have a prominent role in running a vehicle. Wheels are the strong legs that help the vehicles run, walk and stand still.

Hence, a defect on it can bring big troubles on a trip. The air pressure level, thread thickness, disk condition, lug nuts are the factors that has to be looked over every day. Also, wheels and tires need to replace at proper intervals for a seamless drive.

9. Brake System

Inspecting brake involves various steps. For that, we have to take multiple testing rides as well. The oil, brake chamber, pedal, air lines, seals are few of them. The chances of brake system get into defect is more high, since it is the bridle of our gigantic wagon.

School-Transport-Software--Ensure-enhanced-student-safety

Thus, we have to ensure that the brake system is fit enough to control the bus all around. Regardless of the climate, terrain it could control the vehicle all around.

10. Documents and papers

Vehicle documents including insurance policies, registration and permits, test results, driver license,and other eligibility docs are to be updated as it expires. Over every trip, we have to check the documents twice to assure all papers are valid to the data.

Therefore, inevitableis the pre-trip inspection on school buses. To ensure a safe and secure trip for the children we have to pay our diligent attention throughout the school buses. From the number ofplates to the exhaust pipe, all the standards and recommendations have to adhere.

There are numerous factors still remaining for our attention in school buses. However, we have covered almost every vital point to look over for a pre-trip inspection. Following these tips can help you keep unnecessary troubles far away from your fleets on the roads.

Wish you a safe trip.

8 Road Safety Tips For Pedestrians

Posted on April 12, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Pedestrians also have the responsibility to follow certain traffic rules while on road. Your behaviour should not be the reason for any casualty. Try to be more attentive to your surroundings and follow the rules, as pedestrians your eyes and ears are your best tools for keeping you safe.

HERE ARE FEW TIPS YOU CAN FOLLOW AS PEDESTRIAN

Don’t jaywalk
Use sidewalks as much as possible, if not walk facing the traffic signal to know your surroundings
Mind the signs and signals
Use pedestrian crossings to cross the road
Before crossing the road look both sides to make sure there aren’t any vehicles
While on road do not text, play or hear music. Avoid distractions as much as possible
When you’re with children try to make sure they are not walking by the side of the road. Always maintain 3 feet distance from the road
During harsh weathers or at night, try to wear light coloured clothing so that you are visible.

Road Traffic Safety Rules In Lebanon – All You Need To Know

Posted on January 25, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Lebanon has a population of 60, 00000 people of which 85% live in the urban areas. Lack of an efficient public transport system has resulted in an increase in passenger car vehicles on the road…

Irresponsible and negligent driving is the main cause of approximately 1200 deaths a year in traffic accidents alone. Poor road infrastructure also contributes to this statistic.

Traffic rules for drivers as well as pedestrians have been stipulated by the Government. But the authorities have been lax in implementing them.

The following are the rules to ensure driver discipline and safety on the roads.

Driving License Issuance

Driving in Lebanon is on the right-hand side of the road.
The minimum age to obtain a driving license in Lebanon is 18 years.
A driver needs to be 23 years to rent a car, Minimum age to drive commercial vehicles is set at 21 and school buses at 25
Driving Licenses are issued after the candidate passes a mandatory written and practical driving test. They are renewed every 10 years.

Driver rules

Drivers are to carry a valid driver’s license, registration and insurance documents while driving.
Drivers cannot drive motor vehicles without registration and license
Drivers cannot drive an impounded vehicle.
Drivers should comply with the traffic lights, should not overrun the red signal and stop when required
Drivers should give way to aged and disabled persons and students.
They should give priority to ambulances, fire engines, police and other government vehicles.
Drivers should not use radar detection methods.
Drivers should not drive under fatigue.
Drivers should not block intersections.
They should give preference to vehicles inside of a roundabout.
They should refrain from making illegal U-turns and performing acrobatics on the road

Speed limit

Speed limits set by the road safety authorities in Lebanon is a maximum of 50kph in urban areas and 100kph in rural areas.
Driving under the speed limit by 20Km/h is not allowed.
Driving over the speed limit by 60km/h attracts maximum fine, vehicle seizure and a jail term.
Over-speeding, racing and dangerous driving are not allowed and are punishable offences.

Drink/Drug driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is prohibited.
Even though the legal limit in drinking and driving is 0.5g/l, the authorities have adopted 0% tolerance towards driving after drinking.
A graded fining system exists for driving under the influence of blood alcohol concentration levels of 0.5-0.8g/l, 0.8-1g/l, and for above 1g/l heavy fines, seizure of vehicle and jail term is imposed.
No open alcohol containers are permitted in a vehicle on road.

Vehicle safety rules

Seat belts are compulsory for both front and rear passengers in all vehicles.
Helmets are compulsory for cyclists and motor-cycle riders.
Cyclists should use side mirrors.
Cars should not have dark tinted windows.
Vehicles on the road should have their light on at all times.
Using mobile phones while driving is prohibited. A hands-free system can be used.
Signal lights and high beam lights are to be used only when necessary.
Hazard lights have to be switched on when the vehicle is broken down or when there is an obstruction on the road.
Hazard triangle in the vehicle is mandatory.
Dangling any part of the body outside while the vehicle is in motion is not allowed.
Registration plates have to be displayed clearly on the vehicles.

Passenger restrictions

Children under the age of 5 years have to be seated and buckled in a car seat.
Children under the age of 10 years should not be seated in the front seat and should not be transported on motor cycles

Parking regulations

On-street parking is normally allowed for a maximum of two hours.
Vehicles should not be parked in no-parking zones, pedestrian walkways and crossings or in slots reserved for the disabled.
Vehicles for sale should not be displayed or parked in public parking spaces.

Accident rules

A vehicle involved in an accident has to be moved to the side of the road
Causing accidents, not stopping immediately or performing a hit and run attract heavy fines, seizure of vehicles and jail terms.

Pollution rules

Vehicles with carbon emission beyond the legal limits are penalized.
Noise pollution and Littering are not permitted.

Pedestrian rules

They have to respect the traffic signal lights and use the pedestrian crossings
They are to use assigned bridges and tunnels to cross busy roads.
Entering and exiting vehicles 25 meters close to intersections, signals or roundabouts in not permitted.

Violation of each one of the above traffic rules in Lebanon is a punishable offence.

Fines ranging from 200,000 LL to 1,000,000LL are imposed on violators. Major and repeated traffic offences call for imprisonment and confiscation of vehicle and licenses.

If citizens of Lebanon strictly follow the comprehensive set of traffic rules fatality rate can be reduced.

A change in the attitude of drivers, strict implementation of the rules and a better understanding of safety issues is essential.

Many organizations have been formed to create an awareness of road safety among the people and drivers.

A Simple Guide to Auto Route Optimization in School Buses

Posted on January 11, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

The world we live in is no longer as safe as it used to be. Crimes, especially against young children, are on the rise. Hardly a day or two passes without any crime against children being reported.

In addition, mishaps and accidents are a threat to the lives of students. As a result, parents are worried more than ever about the well being of their school going children.

Due to this reason schools have sought the help of technology to ensure the safety of the students who use their school bus to commute to and from school.

While cameras help school authorities to keep an eye on children when they are within the campus, the tracking software enables them to ensure their safety during their trip to and back from the school. The software also enables parents to keep track of their children through their mobile devices.

As such, the aim of this post is to provide some information on school bus auto route optimization. So, let us start by understanding as to what auto route optimization actually means.

Auto Route Optimization – What Is It

Optimization of the school bus route is a process wherein the school transportation administrator generates one set of routes to ensure that all children are transported to and from school safely and on time.

Bus route optimization enables schools to reduce the number of buses and the distance to be travelled, thus contributing in saving fuel and other costs. It may not be possible to achieve this always, but it is certainly one of the important goals.

School bus routes can be optimized in many ways. A simple stop optimization could result in savings in running miles. It involves keeping the same stops on the routes and changing the order in which each stop is visited.

Another option is to observe stops on several routes and determine whether grouping them differently could result in a reduction in the distance travelled.

However, care should be taken not to overload the bus by assigning too many students in each route. Further, enough time should be allocated to buses to complete a trip.

As such, a number of components have to be considered while optimizing school bus routes. It is not an easy task to keep track of every variable in mind and manually optimize the school bus routes.

It is, therefore, best done with the help of software with built-in artificial intelligence capability. This software makes use of an algorithm to optimize the routes.

How Does School Bus Auto Route Optimization Work?

The route optimization software automatically creates routes on the basis of the specifications that the users provide. The parameters that the users may incorporate into the algorithm may include the following:

The maximum time a student should spend on the bus.
The maximum time allowed for the entire route. The starting point and destination is also taken into account in this case. The preferred pickup point in each school bus route may also be included as a parameter.
Specify the capacity.
Group the students either by school or route
Consider whether the bus should stop at each of the school in the route or at transfer points.
Choose buses to be used from the fleet.
Specify the size of the bus to be used on a specific route.

Routes are often created on the basis of the students to be included. Students may be added based on the school in which they are studying and the boundary or zone they are being transported to.

Once a route is finalized, it can be viewed on a map with each and every stop clearly marked. Reports can also be printed and reviewed. The software allows this process to run until the optimum route is determined.

The important aspect to be kept in mind is that this is just the starting point. Even after activating a route, it can be manipulated to suit the needs of the school.

What Are The Benefits Of Auto Route Optimization?

School bus operators often find it challenging to optimize the operational costs. They can reduce their costs only by optimizing their routes. The auto-routing ability of the software helps to do exactly that and derive a number of benefits. They include the following:

The built-in AI capability of the software provides auto suggestions on the most fuel-efficient routes. In addition, it carries out efficiency checks to make sure that all the current school bus routes are operating at their optimum capacity.

A lot of recorded data related to routes, pick up points, school buses and their seating capacity are made use of for the purpose. Vehicle assignments are often initiated by considering the current data collated in the registration forms.

This feature is very helpful in efficiently managing multiple pick-up points in one route. If a kid that is being picked up in a route changes location, the system comes up with a contingency plan and suggests the pickup and drop points.

The route optimization feature of the software also helps to identify the shortest route. Pick up and drop points are suggested based on the earlier points assigned. It is carried out after thorough analysis and suggests the best pick-up point for each every student in the shortest route.

The software provides school bus operators not only with feedback but also suggestions for achieving time and fuel efficiency.

The school bus auto route optimization software spares the in-charge of the efforts involved in manually allocating the routes.

It also allows the school bus drivers to drive peacefully as they are always provided with an updated route map that clearly indicates the pickup as well as drop points.

When a school wants to redistrict and implement optimize routes the software enables them to tweak the routes. Through optimization, it is possible to eliminate few trips and this allows the school to save substantial amount of money.

It is the key features of the auto route optimization that make it extremely useful: They include the following:

1. Pick up and drop points are taken into account when suggesting a route.

2. Optimizes the pickup points and improves efficiency.

3. Automatically updates the best pick-up order, hence saving time and fuel consumption.

4. Auto optimization aligns multiple pick-up points in one route to create the shortest route.

5. Centralization of data enables the determination of the shortest route to reduce the distance travelled.

6. The route optimization application automatically modifies the current seating capacity based on the number of students in a route.

7. The beauty of the system is that it automatically collects the data whenever the pickup or drop off point is modified.

9. It is also capable of suggesting alternate best routes to avoid traffic.

Finally, the software may also be employed for the purpose of generating new ideas with respect to route optimization. Using the school bus auto route optimization software it is also possible to identify new ways to cut routes and save money.

How Safe Is Your School Bus ?

Posted on October 4, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

How safe is your school bus is a question that comes to everybody’s mind at the start of each school year. This can be attributed to the several high-profile school bus accidents that have taken place in the past.

According to safety administration authority, the safest way of transporting children to and from the school is the school bus. In fact, a school bus is considered to be seven times safer compared to traveling either by car or van.

Bus Safety

Time and again people have raised the issue that school buses are not provided with seat belts to ensure the safety of children. On the other hand, seat belts have been compulsory for passenger cars ever since 1968. However, experts in the filed opine that they are not required on school buses.

According to them, seat belts have a key role to play in ensuring the safety of passengers in cars, but the design of school buses is different and a unique kind of a restraint system on buses works extremely well.

On the other hand, the small school buses are to be equipped with lap and/or lap plus shoulder belts at all of the specified seating positions.

This is because the weights and sizes of smaller school buses and vans are closer to that of passenger cars and mini trucks, it is essential to provide seat belts to ensure the safety of the occupants.

In addition, the chances of students getting to school safely are nearly 70 times higher when they take a school bus instead of commuting by car.

This is because school buses have to comply with a lot of regulatory stipulations compared to other vehicles that ply on the roads. Moreover, they are designed to provide a higher level of safety than other passenger vehicles and prevent crashes and injuries. Further, the stop-arm laws protect students from other motorists.

Another aspect is that school buses are designed in such a way that they ensure high levels of visibility. Other safety aspects include flashing red lights, protective seating, rollover protection, high crush standards, and cross-view mirrors in addition to stop-sign arms.

The school students are also further protected by law. The law prevents drivers from passing a school bus when students are being dropped off or picked up, irrespective of the direction from which he/she is approaching.

Bus Stop Safety

It is not riding the bus that poses the greatest risk to the school students. The risk is higher when approaching or leaving the bus. Prior to going back to school or starting school for the very first time, the parents and children must have a clear idea of the traffic safety rules.

Parents must teach their children to follow all road rules and safe practices so that waiting for school bus at bus stops becomes safer for them.

Children must reach the bus stop from where they board their school bus at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time of the bus. Parents can visit the school bus stop and show the children where they wait to safely board the bus.

Children should wait at least six feet or three giant steps away from the curb. Children should also be told clearly that they should not run around or play when waiting for the school bus.

When it comes to boarding or getting down from the school bus, children should be taught to be patient, until the door gets opened, and the driver announces that they can board or get down at the bus stop.

Children should also be taught to hold the handrails so that they don’t fall down while boarding or alighting from the bus.

Children should never be allowed to walk behind the school bus. If a child has to cross the street to board the bus, he/she should be trained to walk on the sidewalk or along the street on the side to a point which is at least 10 feet or 5 giant steps in front of the school bus prior to crossing the street.

It is also important that children make an eye contact with the school bus driver prior to crossing the street in order to make sure that the driver has seen him/her. At times children might drop a book or a ball near their school bus but they should never try to pick them up.

This is because the driver may not be able to see them. The safest thing to do in such a situation is to inform the bus driver.

On their part, school bus drivers can take care of a few things to make school bus travel safer for children. When backing the bus out of driveways or leaving garages, they must keep a watch on children that are bicycling or walking to school.

The same rule applies when driving the bus around the neighbourhoods within school zones. Drivers should watch out for children walking or cycling to school.

It pays to slow down the bus and watch out for children that are walking on the street, especially if the neighbourhood does not have any sidewalks.

They should also be aware of children congregating and playing near school bus stops. Drivers should also be vigilant as children that arrive late might run on to the street unaware of the traffic.

In addition, drivers must be aware of the school bus laws in their state and obey them. This includes the use of the flashing light signal system for alerting motorists.

Flashing yellow lights indicate that the school bus is going to stop either to enable the children to board the bus or alight from the bus. This is a warning for the other motorists to either slow down or prepare for stopping their vehicles.

When the red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, other motorists understand that the school bus has been stopped for children to either get into or get off the bus.

Motorists will immediately stop their vehicles and continue to wait until the driver puts off the flashing red lights and withdraws the extended stop-arm.

The school bus starts moving even before other motorists start driving their vehicles again. Further, refresher training courses are available for school bus drivers to ensure the safety of children during the school year.

It is not an easy decision for parents to allow their children to travel to and from school on the school bus. However, it is important that they keep in mind the fact that, even without seat belts, a school bus that operates as per regulations is the safest option for school children.

How to Properly Organize and Manage School Field Trip

Posted on August 16, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Planning a field trip and knowing exactly how to go about doing it is an essential skill. The idea of field trips works excellently for both the teachers and students.

While the idea is to take students out of the classroom and help them experience some real-life learning, it is also beneficial for teachers as they got to know a student’s interest.

It is no wonder that school boards these days have become increasingly cautious about allowing field trips. If planned well then a field trip can indeed be a memorable and meaningful experience for everyone involved!

Planning and Organizing a Field Trip

Some of the below mentioned stages can be a good guide on how to organize and plan a school trip:

Decide where to go and think about places that enhance and reinforce your curriculum goals.
Ask your administrator and jot some notes before presenting the idea. Tell her why you want to go, where you want to go, what dates you are thinking of, and what the cost will be.
Arrange for transportation and decide how you are going to get the little kids there and back.
Decide on where and when you will stop for meals. Some of the common options available are either everyone including children bringing their own lunch, or stopping at a restaurant or café on or off sight.
Make a plan and understand the time that each activity takes to perform keeping the interest and attention span of students in mind.
Arrange for supervision depending on the number of students going for the trip and number of adults needed in order to handle the children. This also varies depending on the behaviour of age and maturity of the students.
Create a permission form that includes all the necessary details about the field trip, like the date, time, venue, pick-up, drop-off, food to be carried, money to be carried, dress code if any and other such details that is necessary for parents to know before they sign and give their children the permission.
Tie in the field trip with the student’s curriculum by deciding the kind of assignment and learning that can be done on the trip. This usually requires pre-learning and background reading to be done by the teachers.

Tips for Field Trip Behavior Management

While planning a field trip, teachers are usually worried about kid’s behaviour outside the school premises as they don’t how they are likely to behave outside the school setting. Some tips that teachers must remember while planning for a school field trip are:

If some students have significant trouble meeting the behaviour expectations on a day-to-day basis, they should hold a frank discussion regarding the same with the parents.
Always think of an alternative plan for students that you think would not be able to cope with the trip circumstances.
Tell students they are under observation a week before the trip and reward the ones that behave appropriately as this will also give them an insight about the kind of behaviour that is expected from them.
Keep into consideration the medication schedule of kids from their parents
Hold an open discussion with students about the purpose of the trip and expectations of their roles and responsibilities on the same.
Consider keeping a low teacher-student ratio to reduce chances of mishaps

Field Trip Safety Tips for Teachers

While taking children on a field trip, teachers have a huge responsibility of their safety. And as children are usually not so responsible and old enough to be at their best behaviours, teachers must keep a tab of the below tips as they are helpful in ensuring student safety:

Make students get their parents’ signature on a no-objection form which gives the school permission to take children on a field trip
Divide children into groups and assign a monitor to be able to give equal attention to all students and avoid mishaps.
Inform children about the place they are going to visit and prepare them about what they are going to be doing there.
Educate children about the safety tips for the trip and let them know who they are supposed to reach out to when they need any help.
Let the students know they are going to be divided into groups and also let them know who they are going to be with so that they can be comfortable around the people.
Choose a safe transport. Instead of hiring private vehicles, school buses that children travel are safer and more preferred during field trips.
Carry a first aid kit and also water and juices in case to avoid students from feeling dehydrated and low on energy

Here's a video of how teachers can able to track students while on a school field trip or an excursion

Field Trip Rules for Elementary School Students

For students of elementary school going for a field trip, certain rules are mandatory that make trip a pleasurable experience for all like:

Be along with your group at all times
Respect what the monitor says and obey her commands
Help keep noise and confusion at a minimum
Know who to talk about any problems that you are facing
Help others in your group
Take care of your belongings and do not indulge in any inappropriate behaviour while on the trip
Discuss if there is any problem with the teacher
Abstain from using any foul language or showing any disrespect

Field Trip Rules for Middle School Students

Just like students of elementary school, it is very essential for students of middle school to follow rules and regulations as the middle school usually have trips that are for more than just a day and usually are outside the city.

This makes it more important for them to abide by the rules to ensure their safety. The students must remember to:

Stick to the instructions given by teachers and chaperones courteously and respectfully
Keep the transport vehicle, hostel or hotel room clean at all times
Not go beyond the mentioned boundaries of the place they are staying at
Strictly adhere to the time lines and report on time, as suggested by teachers.
Carry appropriate clothes according to the weather and the place
Not ride any form of public transportation during their free time
Make no excessive noise in hotel or the hostel through music or shouting
Follow the buddy system and leave no student alone in his or her hotel room

Impact of Field Trip on the School Environment

A field trip is one of the best tools that we can use to provide every student with real-world experiences.

By taking children out once in a while where they begin to see that what they learn within the classroom walls, schools promote a more efficient way of learning for the students.

It helps them solve the problems they see in the world around them and can have a direct impact on who they become as people. Field trips make learning relatable and faster for students making the school environment more lively and interactive.

Therefore, encouraging school trips is promoting a better learning program for schools and also enabling a healthy development amongst students making them more self-aware and confident.

10 School Bus Safety Tips for Children [Infographic]

Posted on July 23, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

There are more than 23 million children, for whom school bus is the only of transportation for to and from schools. Some parents consider their own vehicles to pick and drop their children to schools, but most of the families prefer school bus due to their busy work schedules.

School buses are considered as the safest mode of transportation for school going children staying far away from children. It is a proven fact that opting school bus is thousand times safer than travelling in own vehicle.

When you consider school bus for your children, you worry about their safety which doesn’t have an end even if they get older. Usually children get excited on the bus. Being careless, running and turning around while getting on and off the bus can be dangerous. So it is essential to teach children regarding how to stay safe on the school bus.

It’s a fact that school buses are the safest mode for school going children to travel but still it can be dangerous if they act carelessly. If you are a parent or a teacher, it is your responsibility to teach kids about school bus safety tips.

For your help, we Trackschoolbus have mentioned few school bus safety tips in the form of infographic for children which they must follow for a safe journey.

12 Safety Tips Every Child should Know About

Posted on November 7, 2016 by TSB Super Admin

Children like to play, explore and discover new things. It will help them to grow, learn, develop, become skillful and intrepid. As a parent, you always try to protect your children. But it is not possible for you to protect them throughout the day. And hence you can teach them certain safety rules or tips which help them to take care of themselves.

Here are the 12 safety tips you should teach your child for improving child road safety:

Also Read:

5 Must-know Unwritten Road Safety Rules on Indian Roads

Ways Students Play a Role in Road Safety

1. Teach them about basic contact information

If you teach your children about basic contact information, then it can be useful for them in times of an emergency. You may wonder about the contents in basic contact information. It can include your child's full name, your name, address, phone number, and location. You should repeatedly tell these details to your children, so that they may never forget about it later.

2. Advise them not to go anywhere with strangers

   You should make your child aware of the fact that however tight the situation is, they should never approach or accompany a stranger. Also, tell them not to blindly believe a stranger who claims that “Your parent told me to get you”.

   If you have arranged someone to get your child in times of emergency, tell them, and if possible show them the picture of that person. Try to send someone whom you trust and you can rely upon like a grandparent, aunt, or a relative. You can create a safety code with your child and when someone shares that code, your child will be able to know it's okay to go with them.

3. Make your child aware about road safety

Your children might be exposed to road related accidents and injuries, due to the lack of supervision and guidance. It will be better, if you do not allow your child to play near roads.

For ensuring their safety, here follows certain rules you should make your child aware of:

Before crossing the road – Look left, right and then left again
Cross the road by holding hands of an adult
Don't run or play near a road
Know about traffic signs and lights
Face the traffic if you walk on a road with no sidewalk
Try to get out of the vehicle on the pavement side only
Use a helmet while riding a bicycle, scooter or skateboard

4. Tell them to stand where they are, if they get lost

Your children may panic a lot, when they get lost. If such situations occur, then as a parent, you can tell them to stay where they are, and inform the relevant authorities (if it is a school, inform the teacher, friend's parent or principal). And remind them not to wander aimlessly, and create further confusion.

You May Also Read:

Importance of Student Road Safety Education

5. Warn them not to share personal information online

Nowadays, even children are addicted to computers and hence, it is vital for you to give them appropriate safety lessons. You can teach your children not to reveal personal details such as phone number, residence details, age, school they attend etc. online.

6. Avoid using or carrying dangerous items

You should advise children to avoid dangerous items such as knives, matchboxes, and other weapons for their safety. When you remove such items from your child's reach, tell them that such things are used by adults only and hence they should avoid it.

7. Teach them about good and bad attitude

Children should be able to understand the difference between good and bad behaviours. It is your responsibility to teach and help them determine whether someone is behaving to them appropriately or not. Also, you can tell them that if some stranger tries to touch their body, they should immediately call out for help. You should also give certain exceptions such as for a doctor who has to touch them for taking care of injuries.

8. Instruct them not to keep secrets

Secret keeping is a bad habit for elders as well as young ones. As a responsible parent, it is your duty to make them understand about the side effects of keeping secrets and reduce the fear of telling you about it. You should inculcate a feeling in them, that they can share those secrets freely to you and you will not make any judgements on the basis of it.

9. Make your child aware of certain important contacts

Obviously, your child may face difficulties in their school. Make sure that your child knows your contact number as well as the contact number of police (100) for handling emergency situations. This will help ensure safety for your child.

10. Teach them about the importance of cleanliness

Most children are unaware about the importance of cleanliness. You can teach it to them, and make them understand the consequences if they do not have proper cleanliness. Tell them to keep themselves and their surroundings clean.

11. Tell them to follow their instincts

You can tell your child to follow their instincts, understand it's importance and thus be safe. Also, tell them not to do any activity that they are unsure or uncertain about, even if you feel isolated from a group.

12. Make sure that your children can take care of themselves

It is your responsibility to teach your children about safety and its importance in life. Hence, you can advise them to know about various safety rules and regulations and properly follow it at the right time.

Child road safety is very much important in today's busy world. Hence, it is crucial for you to teach your kid about basic safety rules and the importance of following them. There are certain simple rules you can make your kid learn right from childhood. But make sure that you use language that can be understood by them. Above all, you should make them understand about the fact that the key of safety is in their hands.

Be cautious, Life is precious