School Bus Safety Trainers Honored for Reviving Bus Driver
The three Gwinnett County (Ga.) Public Schools trainers quickly administer CPR to their coworker after she has a seizure, loses consciousness, and stops breathing during a training session.

Three Gwinnett County (Ga.) Public Schools safety trainers were honored for administering CPR to bus driver Felina Canon, shown third from left. Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Public Schools

Three Gwinnett County (Ga.) Public Schools safety trainers were honored for administering CPR to bus driver Felina Canon, shown third from left. Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Public Schools
SUWANEE, Ga. — Three Gwinnett County Public Schools safety trainers were honored on Thursday for reviving a school bus driver after she lost consciousness during a recent training session.
The trio — Cindy Johnston, Sandy Purcell, and Dee Walls — were recognized by the American Heart Association and the Emergency Response Training and Support Services in a ceremony held at the Gwinnett County Public Schools transportation service center in Lawrenceville, according to a news release from the district. The three women were presented with a plaque at the ceremony and their names will be listed on the websites of both organizations.
The incident occurred during a training session for bus drivers on July 29. During the session, one of the drivers, identified as Felina Canon by WSBTV, experienced a seizure, lost consciousness, and stopped breathing.
A call was made to 9-1-1, but Johnston, Purcell, and Walls acted quickly to assist their coworker, Don Moore, the executive director of transportation for the district, wrote in a newsletter for the transportation department. The women moved their coworker to the floor and administered CPR until paramedics arrived.
Moore added that the paramedics worked on the driver for about 20 minutes, shocking her heart twice before they transported her to the hospital, before her pulse and blood pressure were restored.
Moore expressed pride in his team.
“The emergency room doctor said if Cindy, Sandy, and Dee had not jumped in and performed CPR, their coworker would not have made it,” he said. “This is an example of why CPR certification is required of all our drivers and monitors.”
“Some may wonder if the safety training our department does each year is necessary and makes a difference,” Moore wrote in the newsletter. “For one employee, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’”
More Safety

North Carolina Student Killed While Boarding School Bus, Two Die in Utah Bus Crash
A Southern Nash High School student died after being struck by a pickup truck while approaching her school bus. In a separate incident, two people were killed after crashing into a school bus in Utah.
Read More →
Minneapolis School Zone Pilot Cuts Speeding 41% with Low-Cost Street Design Changes
In a pilot project in Minnesota, two school-area intersections had low-cost, temporary road and traffic flow improvements made to measure the impact on roadway and student safety. Here's what they found.
Read More →
Sitestream, Safety Vision Partner with Connecticut City to Launch School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program
The new enforcement initiative combines camera technology and violation management software to document illegal school bus passing, encourage driver compliance, and enhance student safety.
Read More →
From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →

