Field Trip and Summer Safety

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Field Trip and Summer Safety
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• General Information
• You are representing our program even when you
  are away from the program. Always conduct
  yourself in a professional manner.
• Always take your groups emergency field trip
  information with you on every outing. Prior to
  every field trip, it is your responsibility to
  make sure that you have emergency field trip
  information on every child that will be present
  on the field trip.
• No child is allowed to participate in a
  field trip without an emergency form and
  a signed permission slip. There are no
  exceptions to this rule!

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• Know Your Licensing Requirements

It is impossible to address all the specific
licensing requirements for each state in a
company-wide training. Familiarize yourself with
the rules and regulations governing field trips
and summer safety for your state and county well
in advance.
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Pre Trip Procedures

• All field trips must be pre-approved prior to
  School Director
• Parents must be fully aware of the field trip in
  accordance with licensing regulations
• All children must have school name and telephone
  number on their person
• Emergency information must be on the bus for
  every child present

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• Bus must be fully inspected by driver prior to
  departure
• Amount of gasoline in the tank
• Safety equipment
• Seat belts
• Tires
• Directional signals
• Hazard lights
• Horn
• Brakes
• Mirrors
• Door locks
• Windows and windshield wipers
• Lights
• Report any malfunctions to the School Director
  immediately.
• If gas is needed, it must be purchased prior to
  the trip and without children on the bus. A
  receipt must be obtained and retained. The
  amount of gas in the tank should be noted prior
  to the trip commencing.

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Other Pre-Trip Must-Dos

• Confirm your reservations
• Know the route you will take
• Gather lunches, snacks
• Locate camera, check batteries
• Take ice water and cups

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Prepare Emergency Information Cards

• Insure that you have a recent, clear photo of
  each and every child enrolled in your program
• Attach this photo to the childs emergency card
  that will be taken on the field trip
• For added safety, include the childs height and
  weight.
• Follow licensing regulations for other Emergency
  Information needed

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Responsibilities to the Children

• Talk with the children about the trip or
  activity
• Let the children know your expectations
• Set ground rules
• Prepare for separation of groups

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Loading Children on to the Bus

• Children must be loaded curbside, one child
  at a time. The vehicle may not be running.
• Teachers must assist any child needing
  assistance to enter or exit the bus
• Doors should be checked for fingers, hands, feet
  prior to closing

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• Seat Belt Use

• All children are required to wear a seat belt at
  all times The only exception to this rule is if
  the children are being transported in a large
  school bus that does not have and is not required
  to have seat belts. If the large bus has seat
  belts, all children must wear them even if they
  are not required to do so. Do not take the
  childs word that the seat belt is buckledcheck
  it yourself!
• No child is allowed to sit in the front
  passenger seat
• At no time can children be buckled into the same
  seat belt

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• Interact With Children While On the Vehicle

• Positive interactions should always take place
  ask questions, invite discussion about the
  destination, reflect on the day. Show a genuine
  interest in the children
• Ensure all conversations are age
  appropriate
• Sing!
• When ever possible, a second adult
  should
  be on the vehicle to interact
  with the children
  so the driver can focus on driving

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• Cell Phone Usage

• Bus drivers must carry a school cell phone on
  every field trip
• No driver may use a cell phone while driving
• No driver may make or receive text messages while
  driving
• If the driver must make or receive a phone call,
  he/she must find a safe spot to pull to the side
  of the road

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• Driving Safety

• When more than one bus is traveling together in
  caravan style, care must be taken to travel a
  safe distance behind each bus.
• When separated, the lead bus should slow down and
  allow the other bus to catch up.

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• General Driving Guidelines

• All drivers are required to be in compliance at
  all time with all state rules and regulations
• No speeding Observe all posted speed limit laws
  at all times
• No tailgating Maintain a safe following
  distance at all times
• Passing Pass only when necessary and on
  multi-lane roads only. No passing within 100
  feet of a bridge, tunnel, intersection or
  railroad crossing
• Intersections Use extreme caution when entering
  
• Railroad Crossing Complete stops are required
• Parked Ignition must be turned off and placed
  in Park
• Backing Up Do so only when necessary. When
  parked, the driver is required to walk a complete
  circle around the bus prior to backing up

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• More Guidelines

• Headlights Must be used at all
• times to increase visibility
• Directional signal must be used at
• least 100 feet before turning or
• changing lanes in the city and 300
• feet before on the highway
• Seat belt must be worn by driver and all
  passengers
• Keys must be removed from the ignition and the
  parking brake set when the vehicle is turned off
  and before exiting the bus

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• In the Event of a Vehicle Accident

• Take immediate precautions to prevent further
  accidents
• If possible, move vehicle off roadway
• If necessary, remove passengers to safety.
• Supervise at all times!
• Call 911 from cell phone or signal for help
• Render reasonable assistance to injured
• Obtain accident information plate numbers,
  drivers license, vehicle description
• Notify management as soon as it is safe. Submit
  written report upon return to school

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• Supervision Tips

• Make eye contact with children
  often
• Especially when mixed with the
  public, take roll often
• Always have an adult enter a
  restroom with children try
  to have male
  and female staff available. Never allow children
  to enter a public restroom alone
• Always remain attentive to the children avoid
  distractions
• Talk to the children regularly about the
  importance of staying together

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• Remember all staff and children are a walking
  billboard of your school and program show it!
• Be proud! You are a professional, act like one!
• Be courteous at all times
• Avoid confrontation
• Do not rely on your field
• trip host to manage your trip or your children.
  You must still interact and supervise all
  children

• A Word on Professionalism

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• Take Roll Call at the Following Times

• Getting on the bus
• When all students are on the bus but prior to
  departing
• Getting off the bus at field trip destination
• Inside the destination (per regulations at least
  once per hour)
• Leaving the destination
• When all students are on the bus but prior to
  departing
• As children are disembarking from the bus
• When students are inside the school

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• Counting Children Is NOT Acceptable

• You must take roll call by calling out each
  childs name
• You must make visual contact with each child
  as you check them off your list
• You must always require each child make a verbal
  response to their name

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• Roll Call Sheet MUSTS

• Always kept on a clipboard
• A copy of the roll must be left
  at the school prior to departing
• Kept with teachers at all times
• Turned in to the School Director at the
  conclusion of each trip. Each one must contain
  the signatures of the teachers who attended the
  field trip
• Kept on file at the school per licensing
  regulations

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• If a Child is Injured

• Never move the child activate emergency services
  if necessary
• Have one adult caring for the injured child. The
  others should supervise the rest of the group
• Stay calm and be reassuring. The children will
  feed off your emotions.

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• Parents May Not

• Drop their child off at a field trip destination
• Pick their child up from a field trip destination

You must always leave and return from all field
trips with the same number of children
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• Swimming Field Trips

• The required ratio must be met at all times
  without exception
• You must maintain visual contact with swimmers at
  all times
• All teachers that attend a swim trip must be able
  to swim and current with First Aid and CPR
  certification
• Swim suits worn by female staff must be
  appropriate no 2-piece suits
• Teachers may not sit in chairs or sunbathe
• Sun screen should be re-applied at least one time
  at the pool and / or per instructions. Roll call
  should be taken during sun screen application

Swimming activities are a huge responsibility
which must be taken very seriously by all staff!
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• Swimming Wrist Bands

• Green means a child can swim
  everywhere, is a good swimmer and
  is able to dive.
• Blue means a child is a good swimmer
  in the general pool area. Not allowed to
  dive.
• Red means a child is not a good
  swimmer and can only be in shallow
  end of pool.

Every child must wear a band to show swimming
ability!
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• No Second Chances

Children who do not follow the swim rules will
not be allowed to participate in any future swim
trips!
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• How to Prevent Heat Exhaustion

• Provide plenty of fluids to
  children
• Remind all children to stay hydrated
• Eat fruit
• Invite children to wear hats
• Play in the shade when possible
• Avoid being outdoors during the hottest parts of
  the day
• Cool off frequently
• Use sunscreen

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• Signs of Heat Exhaustion

• Pale, clammy hands
• Heavy sweating
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Muscle cramps
• Vomiting
• Fainting

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• Treatment of Heat Exhaustion

• Get the victim to a shady area
• Apply cool or tepid water to the skin (for
  example you may mist the child with cool water)
• Fan the child to promote sweating and
  evaporation
• Offer Gatorade to replenish electrolytes
• Provide water or juice
• Notify emergency services (911) immediately. If
  their arrival is delayed, they can give you
  further instructions for treatment of the victim.

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• Bus Checks

• Every time children exit the bus, one teacher
  must check it
• The teacher must walk from the front to the
  back of the bus, and not just look over the seats
• The teacher must look closely for a child who
  may have fallen asleep or is hiding

Failure to do a complete check of the bus at any
time can result in termination!
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• When The Field Trip Is Over

• Once all children are inside the building, a
  final roll call must be taken
• Two teachers must then sign the field trip roll
  call sheet

Your signature on the field trip roll is proof
that all children are accounted for and the bus
has been walked and thoroughly checked