MANNFORD, Okla. — A school bus driver and teacher’s assistant here saved a 5-year-old student from choking with the Heimlich maneuver and is being hailed a hero.
School bus surveillance video shows the boy turning red and gasping for air while Ginger Maxville is behind the wheel. She told KTUL that at first she thought he was teasing her and refusing to sit down, but she soon realized that something was wrong. The boy’s sister told Maxville that he swallowed a coin, and Maxville quickly jumped into action. She explained to the news source that she secured the bus and started performing the Heimlich maneuver on the boy, and he coughed up a penny.
Maxville added that this is the first time in 17 years that she has used the skills she learned during CPR training. She is being called a hero by many, but Maxville said that keeping students safe is part of her job, according to the news source.
She also told KTUL that the boy asked to keep the penny, and she gave it back to him after he promised to never swallow another coin again.
Dr. Steve Waldvogel, the superintendent of Mannford Public Schools, told ABC News that the video had been sent around the district so his staff would know what to do in a similar situation. He added that the video spoke volumes for Maxville’s character, and “We just try to find the best people and we’ve got one.”
Watch the news story and video footage obtained by KTUL here.
School Bus Driver Saves Choking Student
Ginger Maxville of Oklahoma realizes a 5-year-old student is choking, uses her CPR training, and performs the Heimlich maneuver on him, and he coughs up a penny.
More Safety

New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing
A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.
Read More →
Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate
As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.
Read More →
8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations
What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.
Read More →
Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses
A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.
Read More →
State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio
$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.
Read More →
Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation
After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.
Read More →
Transportant Debuts First Full-Color Stop Arm Camera for School Buses
Transportant introduced a next-generation stop arm camera designed to improve image quality and reliability for documenting illegal school bus passings.
Read More →3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
New Mexico District Receives $2.7M Grant to Expand Walking School Bus Programs
See how a federal grant will help Albuquerque Public Schools expand supervised walking routes and improve student safety.
Read More →
Florida Inventor Creates Retractable 10-Foot Stop-Arm
A newly developed school bus safety device introduces a retractable barrier designed to deter illegal passing during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
