Three Columbus City Schools students have been lauded by the district’s Board of Education for assisting a school van driver who was having a medical emergency.
The three students, Ja’Vawnte Richardson of Johnson Park Middle School, Jahmier Murphy of Yorktown Middle School, and Ozyas Lloyd-Sloan of Sherwood Middle School, were honored June 1 by the CCS school board for their actions on May 12, when they helped communicate with 911 emergency dispatch and later school dispatch to help their van driver get medical assistance after she suffered a medical emergency while driving them home.
The board resolution honoring them said that the three students’ “quick thinking, composure, and compassion reflected the highest values of humanity, service, leadership and concern for others, serving as an outstanding example for the entire Columbus City Schools community.”
Davan Washington, CCS special supervisor for vans and school buses, said the van driver had been complaining she wasn’t feeling well earlier in the day, but said she wanted to finish the day. Her situation worsened dramatically during the ride, Washington said, and she suddenly couldn’t breathe, speak or communicate.
Lloyd-Sloan said that when they were in the van, the driver suddenly began holding onto her stomach and screaming in pain, and began calling 911. Richardson said he was nervous during the incident and said he was scared they might crash.
Lloyd-Sloan said that he helped the driver pull over and was able to keep her calm while they waited for help.
The students also worked with the district’s dispatchers to help the driver get help and share her vitals, something Richardson said he’s never done before.
“The leadership was already instilled in these three young men,” Washington said. “She wouldn’t have been able to communicate at all, and the kids were on the van and able to communicate for her.”
Washington said that he wanted to thank the students for taking charge of the situation and making sure the driver got the help she needed. If they hadn’t been there, he said, the situation could’ve been much worse.
The van driver, who was present at the meeting, declined to speak to the media.
Lloyd-Sloan said he was grateful the students were honored by the school board.
“It made me want to cry a little bit, but I also feel very happy because this is something my mom would have wanted,” Lloyd-Sloan said.
Latosha Glass, principal of Sherwood Elementary, said during the meeting that she “was not surprised” when she heard Lloyd-Sloan had been involved in helping the driver.
“This young man has always been a leader and he’s always been an exceptional scholar,” Glass said.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 3 Columbus school students lauded for aiding van driver in medical emergency
Reporting by Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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