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Real Heroes in the Workplace
Red Cross Honors Two Maine Residents for trying to Save a Coworker’s Life using CPR
Allen Crabtree, Special to RedCross.org
Tuesday, August 08, 2006 — PORTLAND, Maine — For eight years, the American Red Cross has presented their Real Heroes awards to outstanding citizens in Southern Maine who have demonstrated an act of heroism or have shown courage, kindness and unselfish character in their service to others. Real Heroes honors local everyday people whose actions exemplify the true spirit of the American Red Cross. Mike Gilpatrick of Limerick and Christopher Small of Limington were honored recently for their efforts to try and save the life of a fellow employee in Portland.
Mike Gilpatrick of Limerick, Maine, (left) and Christopher Small of Limington, Maine, (right) received the American Red Cross Workplace Safety Real Heroes Award for their efforts in trying to save the life of one of Gilpatrick's fellow employees.
(Photo Credit: Eric Sawyer/American Red Cross)
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Gilpatrick is a Shift Supervisor at Brockway-Smith Company and is trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid. When fellow worker collapsed on day last fall, he immediately came to his colleague's aid. He assessed the patient’s situation, called 9-1-1 and began rescue breathing and CPR.
That day, Small was working at the plant as an electrician from AMC Electrical Associates in Windham. He is also an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Small joined Gilpatrick in administering rescue breathing and CPR until the rescue unit from Portland arrived and transported the worker to Maine Medical Center. Unfortunately, despite these prompt efforts, he died later that night at the hospital.
“I am very proud of the way that these two [Gilpatrick and Small] responded to the emergency at the plant last year,” said Ray Briere, Brockway-Smith plant manager. “Their training kicked in and they did an exceptional job.”
The Red Cross agreed with Briere that these two were true heroes, and honored them with its coveted Workplace Safety Award.
Are you ready to be a real hero?
Emergencies like this happen when they are least expected. Gilpatrick and Small were trained and were ready. Could you help if a family member or neighbor were stricken with a heart attack or were injured?
For the sake of your family, fellow workers, and neighbors, get trained. Be prepared to help them when an emergency occurs. If you haven’t taken a course recently in Red Cross first aid, CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) or emergency response training please consider doing so. These classes are designed to give you the confidence to respond in an emergency situation with skills that can save a life.
In Red Cross classes you will learn to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and how to give CPR to someone whose heart has stopped beating. You also learn how to care for an adult, child or infant who stops breathing or who is choking. Adult CPR/AED classes teach you CPR, as well as how to safely use an AED to provide care for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Red Cross first aid training teaches you to recognize and provide basic first aid care for injuries and sudden illnesses until advanced medical personnel arrive and take over.
To find out about classes or volunteer opportunities in your area, contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross, or visit the “Health & Safety” section and “Volunteer Services” section of RedCross.org to learn more about the lifesaving training classes and services provided by the American Red Cross.
Allen Crabtree is a volunteer from the Southern Maine Chapter of the American Red Cross and lives in Sebago, Maine. He is a writer, antiquarian book dealer, blueberry farmer, town Selectman, volunteer fire fighter and ambulance driver.
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