Emergencies
Medical Emergency
Should a medical emergency take place on the vehicle, the driver should stop the vehicle as quickly and safely as possible.
If there is a passenger assistant on the vehicle, and they are trained to care for the passenger and in possession of the passenger’s Treatment Plan, any necessary medication can be administered.
Alternatively, the crew should call the emergency services for support and follow the guidance of the call handler until the emergency services arrive.
If there are other passengers on board the vehicle, the driver will be required to talk to and re-assure these individuals who may become distressed.
You should inform the establishment served by the contract and the passengers’ parents/guardians/carers and inform LCC.
Vehicle Accident or Breakdown
Accident
If your vehicle is involved in an accident, regardless of how minor it may seem, it is vital that this information is reported immediately to your employer and LCC as the accident may influence a child’s physical and/or emotional well-being.
If serious injury is evident, passengers should not be moved unless there is a further risk from fire or other risk to life and the emergency services should be called.
Breakdown
If a vehicle breaks down the driver is responsible for the vehicle.
The vehicle should be pulled over to the side of the road where possible and the engine should be switched off and the hazard warning lights switched on.
In both above situations
You should assess the safety of your passengers and determine whether they are at risk remaining in the vehicle. If deemed to be at risk, passengers should leave their belongings in the vehicle and be assembled at a point a safe distance from the vehicle where there is deemed to be less danger.
Passengers should remain at any alternative location until further advice is sought from your employer, emergency services or LCC.
You must determine if the vehicle is safe to continue the journey and where necessary an alternative vehicle will need to be provided by your employer.
You should inform the establishment served by the contract and the passengers’ parents/guardians/carers where appropriate and LCC.
Severe Weather Conditions
In such situations, the safety and welfare of passengers is of paramount importance.
You should ensure that you or your transport operator exchange out of hours contact details with a nominated representative at the establishments to which your contract serves.
You should ensure that the establishment which you provide transport to is open.
If you have started your journey and are met with severe weather conditions along the route, it will be necessary for you to assess the situation and use your judgement to decide whether to continue with the journey. If it is unsafe for you to complete your journey you must ensure that you explain any actions that you take to all passengers, establishments and LCC. Remember to only use your phone when the vehicle is stopped in a safe place with the engine switched off.
If you have transported the passengers safely into their establishment in the morning, it is important that every effort is made to transport them home in the afternoon. However, if the weather deteriorates throughout the day you should listen to the local radio stations for any early closures, or contact the relevant nominated representative, your employer, or LCC.
In these circumstances you may be contacted by the nominated representative or your employer as it may be necessary for passengers to be transported home earlier than the designated pick- up time if it is convenient and safe for you to do so.
If the morning journey is not operated due to poor weather conditions, please check with the establishment if transport is needed in the afternoon as weather conditions may have significantly improved.