The heroics of Renton school bus driver Laurie Henrickson were tested recently, when she helped an injured man during one of her regular routes to pick up kids.

“I was coming around this embankment when I saw this elderly gentleman laying on the ground and he was bleeding,” said Henrickson.

She’s only been with the district for four months as a substitute driver and did not have any children on the bus at the time of the encounter. Usually her days have been spent learning her routes, looking up directions and getting lost.

But as soon as she saw the man, she put on her hazard lights, radioed dispatch and told them to call 911. Henrickson jumped off the bus and asked the man if he was OK and what happened.

“I was trying to get him in the upright position so his cut was above his heart because he was bleeding pretty bad,” she said.

Henrickson also flagged a neighbor to call the police and got another person to help her move the man inside his house. The elderly man was to heavy for her to lift on her own. Apparently, the man was going outside to get his newspaper, when he bent over and his cane gave out and he smacked his head on the ground.

“By the time I was getting on the bus all the emergency crews were coming around the corner to help the guy,” she said.

Although Henrickson said she normally responds well to emergency situations, she credits the emergency and first aid training she received in the district, especially from instructor Chuck DeSmith, for preparing her for this emergency.

“The training that the school district in Renton that they put you through, like the CPR and first aid, it was one of the best first aid and CPR classes I’ve ever had,” she said. “They train you and prepare you and the people who have worked here for a long time – it’s all influential when you get out there and a situation happens. You’re prepared. It just helps.”

Henrickson said all the Renton bus drivers have seen a lot of situations and having heard some of their stories helped her be prepared as well.

“I think what Laurie did is very impressive being is that she is a brand new driver, freshly trained from our training program, freshly trained from first aid,” said Helen Shindell-Butler.

Shindell-Butler is the assistant director of transportation for the Renton School District. All the district’s drivers are well prepared for a variety of situations, she said.

“They keep their kids in tune and are always on the watch,” she said. “They basically are the eyes of the district.”

After a week in the hospital, Henrickson heard the elderly gentleman had been released and is doing fine.