School Bus Driver Saves Choking Student

RIVERHEAD, NY — A school bus driver saved a young student who was choking recently, school officials said.

Martin Doelger, a bus driver with the Riverhead Central School District, saved the life of a Pulaski Street School sixth grader on May 10 by administering the Heimlich maneuver, school officials said.

He will be honored for his quick response by the district’s board of education at their meeting on Tuesday.

A humble Doelger said he just did what he had to do, school officials said.

The incident occurred as the sixth graders filed onto Doelger’s bus after school. Almost all students had boarded when one student approached him with a "horrified look on her face," district officials said. Doelger said he quickly realized that she was choking on a donut. He used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food and called out to a teacher to get help, the district said.

This was the first time Doelger said he has ever used the Heimlich maneuver, which he learned while taking CPR classes through a previous employer.

“I’m just glad it worked out and she is okay,” he said.

“We are so grateful for the quick action that Martin took,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Aurelia Henriquez. “He truly deserves to be recognized.”