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Making sure school buses have properly maintained emergency exits is an important part of school bus safety. It's essential that transportation department directors and operators take the time to inspect their vehicles' emergency exits regularly and make any necessary repairs or replacements required to ensure that all exits are working effectively in the event of an emergency situation. Keeping school bus emergency exits in good condition can help ensure the safety of school bus passengers and drivers. In this article, we'll discuss some tips for maintaining school bus emergency exits properly to ensure that they are workable in case they need to be used.
1. Regularly inspect all emergency exits.
The most important part of school bus emergency exit maintenance is to inspect the exits regularly. This should be done at least once every three months or more frequently if there are known issues with the exits. During inspections, look for signs of wear and tear, such as rusting or cracking on the door or window frames, torn sealants, or loose hinges and latches. This will ensure that exits remain in good working order should they need to be used.
2. Keep the exits and areas around them clean.
Regular cleaning in school buses is essential to reduce the spread of illnesses and to keep up with the interior condition of the bus. However, it is also important for preventing significant wear and tear to other components, such as the emergency exits. Regularly clean the exit doors and handles with warm soapy water and a disinfectant spray whenever you are cleaning the rest of the bus, and this should be enough to keep the area clear of dirt and debris.
3. Act quickly to repair damaged components.
It's important to act promptly if any damage is found during school bus emergency exit inspections. If a door or window frame is rusted or cracked, it should be replaced immediately to ensure the emergency exit is functioning properly. Latches should be replaced or updated periodically, whenever they show signs of wear. Any other broken or worn parts should be replaced as needed as well.
4. Use quality parts and materials.
When replacing school bus emergency exit components, make sure to use parts and materials that are of high quality and meet safety requirements. This will help to ensure that the school bus exits remain in top condition for years to come. Cheaper parts may be tempting, but they will often not last as long and could put students and staff at risk in the case of part failure.
5. Ensure exit doors open easily.
Make sure school bus emergency exits open easily, without any obstructions or stuck parts. This will help to ensure that the school bus occupants can quickly exit the vehicle in case of an emergency situation. To double check that exits open easily, simply open them entirely and ensure that you do not have to push too hard to open them or that nothing becomes stuck. Be sure to check for this periodically, or at least once per month.
By following these school bus emergency exit maintenance tips, transportation directors and operators can help keep school buses safe and ensure that school bus passengers get to their destination safely. For an added layer of safety management, EZDistrict has a module to help track routine maintenance and inspections for anything related to your district's school buses, including emergency exits. This will help to ensure that any issues with the exit doors or window frames are identified quickly and promptly fixed before they cause any harm. Contact any member of our sales team to get started today!