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Dallas School Bus Driver Saves Choking 7-Year-Old, Hailed as Hero

Raquel Radford Baker, the Dallas Independent School District bus driver, quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver after recognizing that the child had swallowed a penny; Baker, who has been working in the transportation services for 17 years, had received CPR and first aid training as part of her job.

Overview

  • Raquel Radford Baker, a bus driver for the Dallas Independent School District, saved a 7-year-old boy, Preston Bell, who was choking on a quarter by performing the Heimlich maneuver.
  • Baker wasn't supposed to be working on that day and was filling in for a coworker when the incident happened on the morning of September 29.
  • Despite the potential panic of the situation, Baker remained calm and said, 'All I knew was, God help me. Help me save this baby.'
  • Baker, who is also a military veteran and a former employee of the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, was immediately recognized for her actions with the district throwing a celebration in her honor, gifting her a cape as a symbol of her heroism.
  • Preston Bell, the boy who was saved by Baker, and his mother were able to meet with her after the event, with Bell referring to her as his 'hero' for saving his life.