After a long day of school, it’s not unusual to see kids teasing, joking, or playing pranks on the bus ride home. School bus drivers not only have the responsibility of getting children home safely, but they also need to make sure that behavior on the bus doesn’t get out of hand. A moment of carelessness can lead to accidents or injuries, which is why drivers must always stay alert.
For Oklahoma school bus driver Ginger Maxville, that alertness turned into life-saving action one afternoon. Ginger often deals with the typical mischief of children on her route—kids laughing, playing, or trying to sneak in a prank or two. But on this particular day, she noticed something different. After repeatedly instructing one little boy to sit down and seeing that he wouldn’t, she sensed something wasn’t right. Before she could react, his sister began screaming that her brother was choking on a penny.
Without hesitation, Ginger immediately pulled the bus over to the side of the road. Acting on her instinct and training, she rushed to the child’s side and performed the Heimlich maneuver. Within seconds, the penny was dislodged from the boy’s throat, allowing him to breathe again. Thanks to her quick thinking and ability to stay calm under pressure, a tragedy was prevented, and a young boy’s life was saved.
Watch this bus driver saving a 5-year-old boy’s life after choking on a penny…
This story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of first aid training. Knowing skills like the Heimlich maneuver can mean the difference between life and death, and while most people hope never to use them, being prepared can save lives in unexpected situations. Ginger Maxville’s heroic actions show that being calm, attentive, and trained makes all the difference—and one family will forever be grateful for the bus driver who became a hero that day.
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