PCV Emergency Procedures and First Aid on Buses 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passenger on your bus collapses and is unresponsive. What is your first action?
- Continue to the next stop before calling for help
- Stop the vehicle safely, call 999, and begin assessing the patient (Correct answer)
- Ask other passengers to assist and continue driving
- Apply smelling salts and wait for the passenger to recover
Correct answer: Stop the vehicle safely, call 999, and begin assessing the patient
The driver must stop the vehicle safely and call the emergency services immediately, then begin first aid assessment.
When a passenger collapses and is unresponsive, the driver must stop the vehicle in a safe place immediately, activate hazard lights, and call 999 (or instruct a passenger to call). The driver should then assess the passenger's airway, breathing, and circulation and begin CPR if trained and if the passenger is not breathing normally. The vehicle should not continue until the emergency is resolved.
Question 2: In the event of a fire on board the bus, which action should the driver take first?
- Attempt to extinguish the fire with the on-board extinguisher before stopping
- Stop the bus safely, order all passengers to evacuate, and call 999 (Correct answer)
- Continue to the nearest fire station
- Close the ventilation system to starve the fire of oxygen
Correct answer: Stop the bus safely, order all passengers to evacuate, and call 999
Passenger evacuation and calling the emergency services take priority over attempting to fight the fire.
In a vehicle fire, the immediate priority is passenger safety. The driver must stop the vehicle in a safe location away from traffic, announce the emergency calmly, open all doors, direct all passengers to evacuate via the nearest exit, and call 999. Only once all passengers are at a safe distance should the driver consider using a fire extinguisher on a small, contained fire — and only if trained to do so.
Question 3: Where should emergency exits on a PSV be clearly marked?
- Only on the outside of the vehicle for emergency services
- On the inside of the vehicle so passengers can locate them easily (Correct answer)
- Only in the driver's cab for reference
- They only need to be verbally communicated by the driver
Correct answer: On the inside of the vehicle so passengers can locate them easily
Emergency exits must be clearly labelled on the inside of the vehicle so passengers can identify them quickly.
PSV regulations require all emergency exits to be clearly marked with conspicuous signs visible to passengers from inside the vehicle. Many operators also display a safety notice showing exit locations. Exits must not be blocked by luggage or equipment, and the release mechanisms must be clearly labelled and unobstructed.
Question 4: What should a PCV driver do if a passenger suffers a seizure on the bus?
- Restrain the passenger to prevent injury
- Put something hard between the passenger's teeth to protect their tongue
- Keep the area clear of hazards, time the seizure, and call 999 if it lasts more than 5 minutes (Correct answer)
- Offer the passenger water immediately
Correct answer: Keep the area clear of hazards, time the seizure, and call 999 if it lasts more than 5 minutes
Clear the area around the passenger, protect their head if possible, time the seizure, and call 999 if it exceeds 5 minutes.
During a seizure: do not restrain the patient; clear nearby hazards; cushion the head if possible; time the seizure; and stay calm. After the seizure, place the patient in the recovery position if unconscious. Call 999 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if another seizure follows quickly, if the person is injured, or if you are unsure the person has a known epilepsy diagnosis.
Question 5: A passenger reports that their luggage contains a suspicious package and they have left the bus. What is the correct procedure?
- Move the package to a safer area of the bus
- Open the package to check its contents
- Do not touch the package; evacuate the vehicle and call 999 immediately (Correct answer)
- Continue the service and report it to the depot at the end of shift
Correct answer: Do not touch the package; evacuate the vehicle and call 999 immediately
A suspicious package must not be touched; the vehicle should be evacuated and police called immediately.
The DVSA and Counter Terrorism guidance for PCV operators states that suspicious items must never be touched or moved. The driver must stop the vehicle safely, calmly evacuate all passengers and crew, move everyone at least 100 metres away from the vehicle, and call 999 immediately, reporting the location and description. Only trained police disposal units should deal with the package.
Question 6: How should a driver communicate an emergency evacuation instruction to passengers?
- Flash the interior lights twice
- Use a calm, clear, authoritative voice on the PA or directly and open all doors (Correct answer)
- Sound the horn three times
- Use the destination display to show 'EVACUATE'
Correct answer: Use a calm, clear, authoritative voice on the PA or directly and open all doors
The driver should give clear, calm spoken instructions via the PA system or directly, and open all doors to facilitate evacuation.
Clear communication is essential in an emergency evacuation. The driver should use the PA system (if fitted) to calmly announce the need to evacuate, open all passenger doors, and direct passengers to the nearest safe exits. Calm, authoritative instruction reduces panic. The driver should account for all passengers if possible once outside the vehicle.
PCV Emergency Procedures and First Aid on Buses 1
A passenger on your bus collapses and is unresponsive.
What is your first action?