MARTINS FERRY — When to be quiet. How to escape during an emergency. When it is OK to cross the road.

These are just a few of the rules taught to youngsters who attend school across the Ohio Valley. And one local district already has taught its students the rules in advance of National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 22-26.

Randall Reasbeck, transportation director for Martins Ferry City Schools, said he typically holds training sessions for his district’s students two to three weeks into the school year. All the students, including those who don’t ride the bus, go through the training.

Reasbeck also recently trained students at Martins Ferry Christian School. While the Christian school does not offer transportation to its students it does rent a bus and hire a driver from the public school district to use during field trips.

“It’s very important, by law, that cars are supposed to stop when a school bus is stopped — whether they have their lights on or not. … A lot of people don’t know that,” Reasbeck said.

He noted that occasionally a bus driver may accidentally bump off the switch that turns the flashing lights on, but that is rare. Students, he noted, are taught to first get the bus driver’s OK to cross the road whether entering or exiting the bus. But other drivers, he said, still need to be careful and stop their vehicles when a school bus is stopped.

During their training students are taught when it is OK to enter and exit the bus and how to exit during an emergency by using the rear door, windows or ceiling hatch. They also are taught about behavior on the bus. For example, students are not supposed to stick their arms or legs out of windows so they don’t get hit by tree branches, signs or passing trucks. Students are not supposed to throw things on the bus. They also are taught not to chase after a moving bus, even if they missed it at their stop.

Reasbeck teaches them how to use their cellphones, if they have them, to call 911 for help if the driver is unable to use the bus radio.

Students also are taught that they must be quiet at railroad crossings, as the bus driver is required to stop before crossing the tracks to open the door and listen for a train coming.

Becky Hill, administrator for Martins Ferry Christian School, said students there go on a few field trips each year including to museums, zoos, plays and more. Each trip involves using a bus. The school has 70 total students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

“This safety demonstration is a very important part of the school year because even if students do not daily ride a bus, all will experience bus transportation on school field trips. After the demonstration students were given a coloring/activity book about school bus safety,” Hill said.

Reasbeck noted the school buses do not have seat belts. He said that may be changed across the country in the future. He noted there are pros and cons to the issue. For example, some people believe a lap belt could do more harm than good to a child. Others are concerned that if there is an accident the students would not be able to get their belts off in time to escape.

Some are concerned students would use the buckles as weapons during fights on a bus. Reasbeck said the seat backs on a bus are high and the seats are close together, providing some protection during a minor accident.

According to the National Association for Pupil Transportation, about 25 million children ride the bus every day to school.

The association advises parents who are meeting their children at the bus stop to stand or park on the side of the road where the children will be let out, not across the street.

Children should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes early so they are not late. This will prevent them from chasing after the bus, which is dangerous and not recommended.