OTTAWA — They may not wear capes, but to the Canadian electrical community they are heroes.
The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) has announced this year’s Lifesaver Awards which honour employees of member companies.
“CEA’s Annual Lifesaver Awards provide a glimpse of the brave men and women that work in the electricity sector. These individuals have risked their own safety and gone above and beyond the call of duty for a stranger in their community,” said Francis Bradley, CEA president, in a statement. “I’m inspired to work in an industry with these everyday heroes who are making our sector a safer place.”
The awards, which have been running since the 1920s, highlight any on-duty employee of a CEA member utility who was involved in a lifesaving attempt or acted to prevent further harm to someone who needed immediate help.
The following individuals have been awarded a CEA Lifesaver Award:
Adam Demchuk (field metering and equipment technologist, FortisAlberta)
Adam Demchuk took immediate action after witnessing a serious car collision on his way home from work. The vehicle in front of him hit a guardrail, flew into the air, plunged into a ditch, rolled over and stopped on its roof. Demchuk preformed a situation assessment and improved access to the victim for paramedics. He also retrieved a water pack and fire extinguisher in case a fire broke out.
Dan Bedard (engineer in training with transmission OPS support for SaskPower) and Gus Wilson (contractor for SaskPower and owner of McKenzie Ventures)
During a suspected heart attack incident, Wilson performed CPR on a fellow contractor and Bedard travelled to retrieve an automated external defibrillator (AED) which was used to revive the victim to a sitting and talking state. According to the CEA, although the individual passed away that evening, the pair’s actions ensured that he had had a better chance of survival during a 45-minute wait for an ambulance, in an area with no cellphone coverage.
Greg Miller (service trade maintainer, Ontario Power Generation)
Miller and his partner were working at the Lady Evelyn Control Dam when they heard cries for help. A boat passenger was pale in colour and unresponsive and in need of medical assistance. Miller initiated chest compression, obtained pertinent details to provide to paramedics on their arrival, administered first aid and helped transfer the individual into ambulatory care.
Pat Murray (general tradesperson, BC Hydro)
Murray carried out lifesaving actions on two separate occasions. In one instance, a truck lost control and narrowly missed striking his truck and crashed into a pole. Murray used an AED to revive the victim’s heartbeat and consciousness before handing-off to a BC ambulance. On another occasion, Murray administered first aid to a victim who received a serious blow to the face outside of a BC Hydro substation. He then transported the victim to the nearest medical clinic where an ambulance transported the victim to the local hospital.
Joseph Soluri (electricity operations team member, EPCOR) and Jason Goulet (electricity operations team member, EPCOR)
The EPCOR utility crew pulled over to the side of the road and sprang into action when they saw an apartment on fire and a woman on the second floor in distress and trying to escape. Soluri ran to set up and steady their 12-foot ladder so Jason could climb up to help and encourage the woman to climb down and escape.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed