Substitute bus driver saves girl's life

RATHDRUM - Linda Morgan never thought she would have to use the Heimlich maneuver as a Lakeland School District substitute bus driver.

But her skills came in handy on Thursday while dropping off kids after school. District officials credit Morgan for saving the life of a Twin Lakes Elementary first-grade girl.

"Her sister was sitting across from me and told me that she couldn't breathe," Morgan said. "When I stopped and turned around, she was bent over, saliva was coming out of her mouth and she couldn't get any air."

Morgan's first tug using the Heimlich didn't work, but the girl started breathing again after the second attempt.

The girl had choked on a plastic toy a half an inch to an inch wide. While the toy didn't come out of the girl's throat, it became dislodged so she could breathe again.

An ambulance was called to check on the girl and she was transported by her mother to the hospital.

The girl's parents declined to be identified or identify their 7-year-old daughter out of respect for her privacy and declined comment on the incident other than they are grateful for the driver's actions. They said she was breathing fine on Friday afternoon, but still hadn't passed the object to their knowledge.

"The little girl wasn't breathing, so we believe this saved her life," said Darrell Rickard, Lakeland's transportation supervisor.

Morgan said her actions "just kicked in" when she saw the girl bent over.

"I didn't want to see any blue lips," she said.

Morgan said she has never had to perform the Heimlich maneuver during an actual incident, but several years ago she dislodged an object from a student at Prairie View Elementary in Post Falls with a stern pat on the back.

Rickard said it's the first time in the 10 years he has been the district's transportation director that a driver has had to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a student.

School districts require drivers to take CPR and first aid.

"Thank God for that," Rickard said.