An Oklahoma teacher’s aide’s quick thinking and training are being credited for likely saving the life of a student who was choking on a coin – and the heroic actions were caught on school bus surveillance video.
Mannford Public School teacher’s assistant Ginger Maxville was driving the bus when a five-year-old student began choking.
“I thought he was just teasing me and just not following my instructions and not sitting down,” Maxville told KTUL in Tulsa.
But Maxville quickly realized the situation was far more serious.
“His sister said ‘I think he swallowed a coin,’” Maxville said.
The video shows Maxville reacting without hesitation, stopping the bus and responding to the choking boy.
“I made sure the bus was secure, went back and grabbed the student,” Maxville remembers. “He was just red and gasping for air.”
Maxville is seen on camera grabbing the boy and performing the Heimlich manoeuvre on him.
“It’s okay,” Maxville is recorded telling to the boy as she tried to loosen the obstruction. “You’ll throw it up.”
Within seconds the boy coughed up a penny.
“I heard it hit the floor and then I seen it rolling,” said Maxville. “I said ‘we got it!’”
It’s the first time in 17 years Maxville has had to use the life-saving skill.
“I was just surprised that this was happening, and I thought I got to see if I was really paying attention when I had my training, and it paid off,” she said.
Following the harrowing ordeal, a relieved Maxville is heard on the video reprimanding the boy before giving him a hug.
“Don’t you do that again, you hear me? You scared me to death.”
Despite being hailed a hero, Maxville says it was just part of her job.
“I feel like I don’t deserve a lot of credit,” Maxville said. “I am just glad we got it done.”
Maxville said she let the boy keep the penny, as long as he promised never to swallow it again.
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