A group of high school students have been hailed for their quick thinking after a routine journey home took a frightening turn when their school bus driver suddenly suffered a medical emergency.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Rather than freeze as the vehicle continued moving, the Pennsylvania students sprang into action – stopping the bus, calling emergency services and checking on the stricken driver.

The incident involved students from Hollidaysburg Area School District in Blair County and unfolded shortly after the bus had dropped off 10 junior high pupils.

Senior Skyla Horton said her sister had been the last student to step off before those still on board realised something wasn’t right.

“And it was shaking the entire time we were stopped, so we knew something was wrong already,” she told the Altoona Mirror.

Instead of making the expected turn around the corner, the bus continued straight ahead.

Horton then noticed the driver’s head beginning to bob as sophomore Alexis Smith rushed towards the front.

Senior Travis Zerby told Smith to step on the brake, while the other students quickly began figuring out how they could bring the situation under control.

Smith admitted there was an initial moment of panic as she found herself having to take control of a moving school bus.

“I was like, ‘What am I supposed to do,'” she said. “I panicked a little bit, and then I realized I had to slam the gear shifter up first.”

Smith managed to apply the foot brake, while Horton pulled the parking brake and opened the doors to allow more air inside.

Another student opened the rear door so those on board could get off safely.

But stopping the bus was only one part of the emergency.

Smith checked the driver’s pulse and found it was weak, according to the accounts of the incident. She began trying to move him from his seat before he regained consciousness.

She continued monitoring his pulse and breathing while they waited for medical assistance.

At the same time, the other students each took on vital roles.

Sophomore Jenna Anderson called 911, while Zerby used the bus radio to contact Fullington Bus Co. and ask for help.

Horton also attempted to rouse the driver before medical assistance arrived.

It was a remarkable team response to a situation which had developed in a matter of moments.

“We did as good as we could have possibly done,” Smith said afterwards.

Smith and Horton credited some of their response to lessons from Alisha Clingerman, their health and medical science teacher at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center.

Horton said Clingerman “does a really good job at teaching her kids what to do in a panic situation or in any situation that could happen.”

And after footage from the bus was reviewed, Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School Principal Breanne Venios was particularly impressed by how everyone on board reacted.

Rather than reaching for their phones to capture what was happening, the students concentrated on helping.

“Not one cellphone was out recording,” Venios said. “Everyone was listening, everyone was following instructions, which goes to show the importance of the bus emergency practices they do.”

Venios believed the students’ response showed the value of those emergency drills, with everyone appearing to fall back on what they had previously learned when faced with a genuine crisis.

“The fact that everyone buckled down, listened and followed — it was textbook the way that everyone responded,” she said. “So it was really nice to see the kids work together to make it happen.”

School officials similarly praised the students for remaining calm and working as a team throughout the emergency.

And, thankfully, there was positive news about the driver afterwards.

Officials said he made a full recovery, received medical clearance to drive again and returned to his regular route.

Well done to these four teens! We need more people like you in this world.

Featured image credit: Hollidaysburg Area School District