VAS Equips Students with Car Emergency Escape Skills

To equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves when travelling by car, particularly in emergency situations, Vietnam Australia International School (VAS) has launched a Car Emergency Escape Skills Education Programme for students from Kindergarten to Secondary School. 

The programme began on 19 August and is being rolled out across all six VAS campuses. Its content is tailored to each school level, helping students gradually develop safety awareness and the skills needed to respond appropriately to emergency situations while travelling by vehicle. 

Learning safety through visual scenarios 

Before taking part in the practical session, students learn about potentially dangerous situations that may occur inside a car, how to remain calm, and basic principles for seeking help and exiting the vehicle safely. 

Through visual materials and demonstrations, students become familiar with emergency equipment, escape routes and the key procedures they need to remember in an emergency. 

Students learn and ask questions about escape theory 

Learning through hands-on practice 

A key highlight of the programme is the hands-on practice directly inside a vehicle. Under the guidance of VAS drivers, small groups of students take turns practising age-appropriate emergency escape procedures, as well as ways to attract attention and seek help when they are alone inside a vehicle. 

Practising each procedure firsthand not only helps students remember what they have learned but also gives them an opportunity to become familiar with real-life scenarios. Through this experience, students gradually develop greater calmness, initiative and confidence when responding to unexpected situations. 

Students practice with emergency equipment, escape routes and the key procedures they need to remember in an emergency

Age-appropriate practice for each school level 

To match students’ cognitive abilities and skills at different ages, the programme is designed with specific learning and practice outcomes for each school level. 

Kindergarten 

Students are introduced to basic safety skills: 

• Recognising the bus emergency escape skills guide and understanding basic visual instructions. 
• Knowing how to call an adult for help. 
• Knowing how to sound the horn or signal for attention. 
• Identifying vehicle doors and emergency exits. 
• Understanding that they should not hide or play inside a vehicle when there is no adult accompanying them. 

Primary 

Students develop essential knowledge and emergency escape skills: 

• Remembering the four basic emergency escape steps. 
• Identifying the locations of emergency equipment inside the vehicle. 
• Understanding the functions of the vehicle horn, emergency warning lights and emergency hammer. 
• Learning how to open the door from inside the vehicle. 
• Knowing how to seek help in an emergency. 

Secondary 

Students further develop their ability to respond to emergency situations and use safety equipment: 

• Understanding the functions of emergency escape equipment. 
• Correctly carrying out the necessary steps when trapped inside a vehicle. 
• Learning how to use an emergency hammer when necessary. 
• Being able to assist and guide younger students when needed. 

Equipping students to protect themselves 

Safety education should go beyond providing knowledge. It should help students develop practical skills that they can remember and apply when necessary. Through a “learning by doing” approach, VAS gives students opportunities to experience, practise and reinforce age-appropriate emergency escape skills. 

The programme is also part of VAS’s holistic educational approach. Alongside academic knowledge, students are equipped with practical life skills that help them protect themselves and respond appropriately to situations they may encounter in everyday life. 

With proactive and age-appropriate preparation, VAS aims to help every student develop safety awareness, remain calm and respond effectively when faced with unexpected situations, contributing to a safe and happy learning environment for the entire VAS community. 

Recap of the safety training

>>> View more: Photos from the safety evacuation instruction programme at VAS