NEWS
RELATIONSHIP
PARENTING & FAMILY
LIFE HACKS
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy
AMPLIFY UPWORTHY is part of
GOOD Worldwide Inc. publishing
family.
© GOOD Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved.
AMPLIFY.UPWORTHY.COM / NEWS

Driver was taking kids home from school when 4 words heard in the background made her pull over—it prevented a fatality

Because of Adams County bus driver Jamie Smoczyk, a 9-year-old got a second chance at life.
PUBLISHED 9 HOURS AGO
(L) Kobussen Buses driver, Jamie Smoczyk speaks in interview. (Cover Image Source: YouTube| WISN 12 News), (R) A school bus parked near a playground. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels| cottonbro studio)
(L) Kobussen Buses driver, Jamie Smoczyk speaks in interview. (Cover Image Source: YouTube| WISN 12 News), (R) A school bus parked near a playground. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels| cottonbro studio)

What started as a regular shift for Kobussen Buses Ltd dispatcher Jamie Smoczyk quickly turned into a life-saving mission after she heard kids shouting four words in the school bus, reported WSAW-TV. The driver was on her usual route when she was abruptly stopped by the disturbance and worrisome chaos from the students. According to WISN 12 News, when the bus driver learned about the situation in just four words, she sprang into action and saved 9-year-old Cathryn Dornacker’s life. 

Bus driver paying attention to passengers while driving. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by martinedoucet)
Bus driver paying attention to passengers while driving. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by martinedoucet)

The students were in the back of the bus doing their own thing while Smoczyk was driving them back home. All of a sudden, the woman was stopped by a student’s helpless cry. Turns out, Dornacker was chewing on her bracelet when something got stuck in her throat. Her brother quickly noticed and yelled for help. Smoczyk heard someone scream, “Jamie, she is choking." The driver sprang into action by getting to Dornacker’s seat and immediately helping her dislodge the item from her throat. 

Little girl holding neck in discomfort as she chokes. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by simarik)
Little girl holding neck in discomfort as she chokes. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by simarik)

“I quickly grabbed her out of the seat, threw her over my knee, and pounded on the back of her,” she recalled. Unfortunately, the girl didn’t seem to respond, but that didn’t stop the bus driver from keeping her calm and acting responsibly. Smoczyk went on to give her Heimlich Maneuver and luckily, the girl was able to breathe again. “I was more concerned that I hurt her in that process, but she was chewing on a bracelet and the beads and the little S-clip that goes to it got lodged in her throat,” she explained. Dornacker’s parents took the girl to the emergency room soon after for a check and she was fine. 

Elementary students in school bus. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by FG Trade Latin)
Elementary students in school bus. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by FG Trade Latin)

Jamie Meinhardt, a dispatcher for Kobussen buses, praised the employee for going above her call of duty and saving a life. “I’m very thankful for Jamie [Smoczyk] because obviously what she did was amazing, but the fact that she stayed calm, that helped me kind of stay calm through it all too,” Meinhardt said. She added that bus drivers are often given training to face situations like these with courage. “You never know when you’re going to need that training because at one point you could be having dinner with your family at a restaurant and someone could fall over and need help,” Meinhardt said.



 

In a post shared on Facebook by Kobussen Buses, it was revealed that Smoczyk received the “Hometown Hero Award” for her actions. “Jamie, your heart, courage and commitment to your students continue to inspire all of us at Kobussen Buses and beyond. Thank you for showing what it truly means to care,” the caption read. However, Smoczyk says that it's nothing more than part of her job to be there for the kids. “Driving a school bus every day is a great honor — to look after those kids like they are my own.” She added, “A lot of people don’t want to do that type of stuff. I say follow your heart, do what you should do, be a good person and try to help as best you can.”

POPULAR ON AMPLIFY UPWORTHY
MORE ON AMPLIFY UPWORTHY