Heroes on Wheels
Thursday, December 04, 2008 4:37 PM
The men and women who drive our buses more than 500 square miles every day see and hear all sorts of things - including emergencies.
And sometimes they commit extraordinary acts while on the job - things that are truly above and beyond the call of duty.
We want to honor these drivers who do heroic acts. We are calling them "Heroes on Wheels." Periodically, we will feature a hero on this blog and on our home page of our Web site.
Today, meet Aaron White.
On Oct. 7, White had just finished a shift on the 283 - Kuykendahl Park & Ride route and walked into a Subway sandwich shop on Main and Preston Streets.
Within seconds, a customer seated at one of the tables tumbled onto the floor, victim of a heart attack. White, 45, immediately started administering CPR. About four and a half minutes later, the man was breathing again. Then a paramedic crew arrived. 
White, a 16 year-veteran at METRO, is also a full-time firefighter.
"It was his lucky day," says White. "I felt good knowing that I saved somebody's life. I don't consider myself a hero. I was just doing what I was trained to do in life. It's a wonderful feeling when I save somebody's life, or when I save someone's home when it's on fire."
White, who works out of our Fallbrook facility, says his naturally calm demeanor helps him cope with the stresses bus operators encounter daily.
"I learned one thing in the Army: Take control of a situation and always have a calm head. You'll be better and go a long way," says White. "I apply that skill here at METRO and at the fire department."
When he's not saving lives, the six-foot tall White is on the road again - but this time astride his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, riding to the Hill Country.