Six Coweta-Fayette EMC (CFEMC) employees were recognized for three separate acts of heroism by their industry’s trade association.
Taylor Alston, Corey Hendrix, Zach Madaris, Brad McGinnis, Josh Minnifield and Alfred Perry each received a Lifesaving Award from Georgia EMC during the state association’s annual meeting held on November 11 in Savannah. The Lifesaving Award was established to recognize EMC employees whose courageous actions were instrumental in rescuing someone from grave and immediate danger.
Their acts of bravery are listed below:
Coweta-Fayette EMC Linemen Rescue Victims of Golf Cart Accident:
While at a job site on April 16, the CFEMC line crew members Hendrix, Madaris, McGinnis and Minnifield witnessed a van veer off the road and strike a golf cart carrying a two-year old toddler and the child’s babysitter. The van flipped on top of the golf cart, throwing both the babysitter and child out of the cart leaving the van driver trapped inside. Without hesitation, the line workers rushed to the scene to provide first-aid those involved. The babysitter was thrown from the golfcart into the woods, sustaining minor cuts and bruises. Thanks to being properly strapped into the car seat, the child had no injuries. The linemen carefully assisted getting the elderly driver of the van out of the vehicle after wrapping the driver in blankets for protection from the broken glass. They called 911 and stayed with all the individuals involved until medical first responders arrived to take over care.
Coweta-Fayette EMC Meter Technician Makes 911 Call on Behalf of Member During Medical Emergency:
While working to install a meter at a home on August 2, Alfred Perry, meter technician at CFEMC, noticed that the member’s appearance was slumped and he was having difficulty breathing. Perry kept a close eye on him while performing his work, but as he was about to leave, he noticed the member propped up on his truck. Perry called 911 and carefully helped the member to sit down to a safe position. The member explained to Perry that he had a heart condition and had recently taken a fall and believed he suffered cracked ribs, among other injuries. Perry sat with the member and continued to reassure him that help was on the way until the medical first responders arrived on scene to provide proper care.
Coweta-Fayette EMC Right-of-Way Pre-Planner Saves Family Member from Choking:
While out to dinner with his family on September 14, Taylor Alston, right-of-way pre-planner at CFEMC, used his safety training to save a family member from choking. Janie Alston, Taylor’s stepmother, began to choke on a piece of steak. She began to panic, but Taylor immediately jumped into action to perform the Heimlich maneuver. After four attempts, the meat was expelled, safely opening her airway.
Chris Stephens, president and CEO of Coweta-Fayette EMC, praised the quick reaction of the employees, noting that it emphasized the value of the safety training at the co-op.
“I’m extremely proud of our employees,” he said. “They are first responders and ready to respond no matter the situation. They didn’t hesitate to see how they could help. Our safety and first-aid training are one of the most important things we focus on. I’m thankful it prepared them not just for things that can happen on the job, but for situations just like these.”
These individuals are among 12 employees from seven EMCs in Georgia to be recognized with a Lifesaving Award, which recognizes EMC employees whose quick thinking and actions are instrumental in safeguarding others from dangerous or potentially deadly situations.
