Special-Needs Driver Honored for Helping Student in Medical Emergency

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — A special-needs school bus driver here was honored for her quick thinking in responding to a student who had a medical emergency last year, according to the Henry County Times.

In October, Darlene Campbell, a driver for Henry County Schools for 42 years, had assisted a high school student who was reportedly having “a bad seizure” on the ride home, according to the newspaper. Campbell told the Henry County Times that the bus monitor on board was watching the student and said he could possibly be having a seizure. Campbell added that she pulled over to the side of the road, took the student to the back of the bus, and began administering medicine to the student.

The Henry County Board of Education presented Campbell with the “Henry Employee Recognition Observance” award at its annual Harvest of Heroes event on Oct. 25., Rodney Christopher, a spokesman for Henry County Schools, told School Bus Fleet. Campbell told the Henry County Times that she was glad she was able to take care of the student, allowing him to depart from the bus safely before the student's mother arrived to the scene.

Rosalyn Gibby, the special-needs transportation supervisor for Henry County Schools, told the newspaper that Campbell’s efforts ultimately prevented the student from having a more serious seizure and going to the hospital. Gibby, who has worked with Campbell for nearly 24 years, also described Campbell as an “exceptional” driver and said she does her job with the safety of students in mind.