Driver, 3 students assist seizing girl on bus

HORSEHEADS, N.Y. — Last Friday, the driver of a Horseheads Central School District bus and three students on board worked to assist a 13-year-old student who had a seizure during the morning route.

Corey McCann, a sophomore at Horseheads High School, noticed that Miranda Blaasch had started seizing and alerted the bus driver, Susan Swartwood, the Star Gazette reports. Swartwood — a registered nurse — went back and instructed Scott Rockwell, a junior, to help her lay Blaasch on the bus aisle floor.

Swartwood put a backpack under Blaasch's head and told McCann to use the bus radio to contact the bus garage and report what had happened. McCann provided the bus' location, updates on the girl's condition and asked for an ambulance.

Sophomore Ashley Bowes went to the rear of the bus and directed traffic around the bus from the window.

Horseheads Central School District Transportation Supervisor Ella Preston told the Star Gazette that bus drivers take a 30-hour safety course during their first year on the job, and also have refresher courses each year. Students, she said, have seven bus safety drills per year.