SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SECURITY TRAINING

3 Options in Responding to Threats/Acts and Other Acts of Violence

1. Be like an ostrich. Stick our heads in the sand and ignore the possibility

2. Overreact. Live in paranoia and fear that negatively impacts the quality of our lives.

3. Keep our eyes and ears open. Report suspicious activities and learn how to react to a crisis if it were to occur.

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Six Basic Security Management Steps

1. Keep calm and assess the situation.

2. Contact supervision and, if necessary, emergency responders.

3. If required - evacuate, relocate or shelter in place.

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4. Protect self, and protect and assist the students

5. Identify self to and cooperate with emergency responders

6. Follow school procedures and complete documentation

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THE CLASSIC DEFINITION OF TERRORISM IS:

“The threat or use of force or violence to coerce a government or civilian population, in pursuit of political or social objectives”

- Federal Bureau of Investigation

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Defining the Threat and Risk

Examples of Terrorist Motivation Can Include:

Political or religious beliefs Hatred of the United States Revenge by disgruntled workers and

students Mental instability Racism or ethnic hatred Criminal behavior

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Examples ofTerrorist Acts Include:

World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on 9/11 Oklahoma City bombing of Federal building Abortion clinic bombings Tokyo subway Sarin gas attack

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Potential Terrorist Targets Include:

Mass transit vehicles Public buildings and assembly areas Schools and universities Military facilities Water supply and power locations

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Summary of the Terrorist Threat:

Terrorism is not a new phenomenon Terrorists have a wide variety of motives,

tactics and preferred targets We can expect more terrorism in the U.S. Most terrorist attacks have been bombings Chemical, biological and nuclear threats may

increase.

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Why are School Facilities/School Buses Vulnerable? Relatively unprotected and vulnerable Potential large number of casualties They are everywhere in the nation Children present an emotional target Attacks would demoralize the

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School Bus Drivers are the Eyes and Ears of the Community

Be aware of: Suspicious activity or behavior Unusual conditions of vehicles Strange packages or items brought onto the

bus Emergency operating plans and procedures

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Recommended Security Procedures for School Bus Drivers

Be familiar with state, school district, and company security guidelines

Remove keys from ignition when vehicle is unattended

Conduct pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections

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Recommended Security Procedures for School Bus Drivers, cont…

Maintain an uncluttered bus Maintain constant awareness

of people and activities Trust your gut reaction Immediately report any

security weakness

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Scenario #1

It is early morning. You are walking toward your assigned school bus to head out for the morning route. As you turn the corner to walk around your bus, you notice a stranger in plain clothes coming off of it. What should you do?

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Inspecting the Bus, Facilities, and Surroundings

EQUIPMENT - PRE & POST- TRIP INSPECTION

Seats Floor Surface Undercarriage Engine Compartment

Tires Fenders Cargo

CompartmentS-14

Surroundings

Facility Changes in workplace environment School staging areas Student pick up/drop off area Good housekeeping

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Scenario #2

You are a school bus driver. As you are waiting outside the school to take students home, you notice a man taking pictures of the school building. He does not look particularly threatening. What should you do?

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Interest in school facilities and/or school buses, employees, or students

Repeated sightings within the school or bus environment

Taking photographs or video of staging areas Abandoning an item and leaving the area quickly Possessing a weapon or dangerous item

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Identifying and Reporting Unusual Behavior

Characteristics to be Noted when Reporting Suspicious People

Eyes Ears Mouth/nose Hair/facial hair

Cheeks/chin Neck Complexion Body shape/size

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ForeheadJewelryShirt/blouseDressCoatPants/skirt

HatSocks/ShoesOddities/TattoosGeneral appearanceAccessories

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Identifying and Reporting Unusual Vehicles

Repeated sightings Vehicle type, appearance, & location concerns Vehicles following or shadowing school buses Vehicles with suspicious occupants Note the year, make, model, color, license plate,

occupants, direction, other identifying features

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Placed in out-of-the way locations where they are not easily seen

Accompanied by threatening message Could have the potential to be a bomb of some

type

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Reacting to Suspicious Items, Devices and Sounds

Visible wires, batteries or timers attached Abandoned by someone who quickly

leaves the scene Tanks, bottles or bags visible A suspicious cloud, mist, gas or vapor

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Reacting to Suspicious Items, Devices and Sounds

Common objects in uncommon locations, such as baby strollers or back packs

Uncommon objects in common locations, such as gas cylinders

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Reacting to Suspicious Items, Devices and Sounds

General Rules to Avoid Injury from a Dangerous Object:

NEVER touch, move or cover the suspicious object or device If an item is touched, keep hands away from mouth, nose and

eyes. Wash hands well. Move as far away as possible and stay out of object’s line-of-

sight Do not use a radio or cell phone within 300’ Keep away from glass windows or other materials that could

become flying debris Remain alert for additional or secondary explosive devices

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Evacuating, Relocating, or Sheltering in Place

RESPONSE PRIORITIES IN ANY ATTACK ARE TO: Protect yourself Notify appropriate authorities Protect students and others Assist students and others Assist emergency responders

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Responses to Protect Oneself:

Don’t take risks Don’t assume anything Don’t forget about secondary devices Don’t taste, eat, smell or touch anything

suspicious Don’t become a victim

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Notify Authorities by Explaining:

Your exact location and condition Type of injuries and/or symptoms Victim locations and positions Indicators of activities and objects Wind direction and weather on scene Existing or potentially dangerous condition

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Managing the Scene Continue to keep calm, reassure, and protect

students Report incident Be alert to the possibility of secondary explosive

devices Do not use cell phones or radios within 300’ Identify yourself to first responders upon their

arrival Await direction from Incident Commander

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Scenario #3

As you look in your rear view mirror, you notice one of your students has a handgun stuck in the waistband of his jeans. He looks wild-eyed and unstable. What do you do?

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Handling Conflict and Acts of Violence on the Bus

Stay calm and remain in control Look for ways to alert emergency personnel with

location and nature of incident If possible, park the bus in a public place and open the

doors If a weapon is involved, do not grab for it or make

sudden movements Make every effort to make assailant feel you are

cooperating If violence is directed at a student passenger, contact

emergency personnel and intervene only if safe to do so

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Dealing With A Hostage Situation Survey staging area or student pick up/drop off for

suspicious people/activities Do not open doors; instead communicate through a

window If suspicious individual is at RR crossing, do not open

door; make visual survey of tracks and move when safe. Contact Dispatch.

Do not board persons if you suspect they are carrying a weapon or dangerous package

If individual is on bus with concealed weapon, pretend you don’t see it. Stay calm, do not confront. If possible, get everyone off the bus. Contact dispatch.

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Dealing With A Hostage Situation If bus is commandeered, follow all instructions –

avoid confrontation. Remain calm. Use common sense.

If individual is on bus with concealed weapon, pretend you don’t see it. Stay calm, do not confront. If possible, get everyone off the bus. Contact dispatch.

Talk to the hijacker, try to create a relationship. Don’t antagonize; be patient and assertive

Attempt to alert authorities but do not take action if it will increase risk to self or others

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The school bus driver as the first line of defense

Threats of terrorism and violence Being the eyes and ears of the community Inspecting buses and surroundings Reacting to and reporting unusual behavior

and vehicles

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Summarizing The Critical Issues

Reacting to and reporting dangerous items, devices and dangerous substances

Evacuating and sheltering in space Managing students and the scene Handling conflicts and threats of violence Surviving a hostage situation

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Summarizing The Critical Issues

REVIEW OF SIX BASIC SECURITY MANAGEMENT STEPS

1. Keep calm and assess the situation

2. Contact supervision and, if necessary, emergency responders

3. If required - evacuate, relocate, or shelter in place

4. Protect self, and protect and assist the students

5. Identify self to and cooperate with first responders

6. Follow school procedures and complete documentation

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