To The Rescue

The children who ride Michael Marigliano’s yellow school bus affectionately call him “Mr. Mike.” Recently, “Mr. Mike,” a 13-year Teamster driver, saved the life of one of those children.

Marigliano, a school bus driver for Baumann Bus and a member of Teamsters Local 1205 in Farmingdale, N.Y., was driving about 40 children home from school one recent afternoon, when he noticed something wrong in his rearview mirror.

“The child was standing behind me and holding his throat to alert that he was choking. I immediately put the bus in park and got up to do the Heimlich on him,” Marigliano said.

The child was choking on a Life Savers candy.

“I had to do the Heimlich twice before it came out. I made sure he was breathing and gave him some water to clear what was left, but he told me something was irritating his throat. I called my dispatcher and we called 9-1-1 and an ambulance came.”

Marigliano helped the child, while maintaining calm and order with the other passengers, including the child’s sister.

“When the ambulance came, the parents started to gather. It happened to be the same day we lost all those children in Newtown at Sandy Hook, and it was on everyone’s mind, wondering what was happening,” he said.

Marigliano, a volunteer firefighter, credits his knowledge of first aid with saving the third-grader’s life.

“It’s a good thing I knew what to do in that situation,” he said. 

For his efforts, Marigliano was presented with an award of recognition by the Middle Country School District and by Teamsters Local 1205.

“We are so proud of Brother Marigliano’s fast and careful thinking. A child is alive today because of his courage. His brave, kind act represents something not frequently enough acknowledged—the fact that Teamster members are highly trained professionals who protect America’s children in countless ways every day,” said Timothy Lynch, Teamsters Local 1205 President. “Tens of thousands of Teamster school bus industry employees across the country take great pride in their vitally important work. We salute Brother Marigliano, and urge people everywhere to acknowledge and value those entrusted to safely transport our most precious cargo.”

“Mike Marigliano is a good union man and his heroic actions and dedication to his profession are to be commended,” said Gary Kumpa, Local 1205 union representative.

“The Teamsters is a great union that works hard for the members and Local 1205 gives us a lot of opportunities,” Marigliano said. “I like working with the children and my job.”