Raquel Radford Baker has had a lot of jobs over the years. She\u2019s been a member of the military, an employee of the Dallas County Sheriff\u2019s Department, and a mother. But for the past 17 years, Baker has been a school bus driver for the Dallas Independent School District.<\/p>\n
Now, she can also add hero to her resume. Last month, Baker saved the life of a 7-year-old boy who had accidentally swallowed a quarter and was choking.<\/p>\n
Preston alerted Baker once he realized he was choking.
\nThe incident, which was caught on tape, took place September 29. Preston, a first grader, was slumping in his seat on the bus, when he suddenly sat up, realizing that the quarter he had been holding above his open mouth had slipped down into his throat. He got up and walked to Baker at the front of the bus and tapped her for help.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just trying to tell her that I just choked on a quarter, and it hurts very bad,\u201d Preston told KXAS.<\/p>\n
‘Baby, breathe. Baby, breathe. I got you. Breathe,’ Baker told Preston as she performed the Heimlich maneuver.
\nInitially, Baker thought Preston was nauseous, but eventually, she heard him say something about a coin and she sprang into action. She grabbed him from behind and carried him off the bus.<\/p>\n
When she got to a bench in front of the school, she told a nearby parent to call 911 as she started performing the Heimlich maneuver, which she\u2019d learned during the company\u2019s training sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m saying, ‘Baby, breathe. Baby, breathe. I got you. Breathe,'” Baker told Fox 4 News. Recalling that moment, Baker, getting teary, said the only thought running through her mind was, \u201cI have to save this baby. I have to save him.\u201d<\/p>\n