HOUSTON — More than 1,200 school bus drivers and attendants here are taking part in hands-on survival rescue training to prepare them to respond to emergency crises on the bus.

Houston Independent School District (HISD)'s transportation services department held the training last Tuesday, with two more days scheduled this week, in partnership with the Houston Fire Department. The event is taking place at the fire agency's training facility.

The survival rescue training features mock emergency drills to prepare bus drivers and attendants for a variety of crises. The drills simulate the effects of a fire on a school bus, an armed intruder on board and a wreck involving a train, among other scenarios. All activities involve real school buses, trains, vehicles, fire, smoke, weapons and staged injuries.

To see our photo gallery of action-packed shots from the event, go here.

“This training challenges every attendee with realistic emergency situations where the safety of the students on board will depend on their ability to respond successfully,” HISD Transportation Operations Manager Chester Glaude said. “In addition, transportation team members will learn safe evacuation methods, student management, how to remain calm in a crisis, and first aid for burns and smoke inhalation.”

HISD’s transportation services department will also be rolling out a silent panic alarm, which has been activated on all of the district's school buses. District officials said that HISD is one of the first public school districts to offer this feature.