It was a sight that Dave Alford, a regulator technician for Ameren Illinois, won’t forget anytime soon.
Co-worker Mike Morris had just stepped into the next room to inventory regulator parts. The two men—along with Joe Sears, Brandon Harris and Curt Nauman—were working together to build a gas regulator station at Ameren’s Peoria Gas Operating Center.
Suddenly Morris came running back into the room. Startled, Alford looked up. Morris was clutching his throat and chest with panic in his eyes. Alford grabbed him, asking, “Are you choking?” When Morris couldn’t respond, Alford started to perform the Heimlich maneuver. Suddenly, Morris collapsed in his arms, completely unresponsive.
Even as Alford yelled, “Call 911,” Sears was on it. As Alford lowered Morris to the ground to check his vitals and begin CPR, Harris located the nearest automated external defibrillator. Then, Harris took over on chest compressions, Alford did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and Nauman stepped in to monitor Morris’ pulse.
Just as Harris was preparing the AED, Morris suddenly took a breath.
Alford rolled him onto his side to help keep his airway open. Within a few minutes, Sears had flagged down the EMS crew and led them through the gate of the operating center, into the building and straight to Morris.
The fact that the entire team leapt into action and worked together seamlessly to save their co-worker wasn’t just happenstance. Alford credits the safety training and refresher courses provided by Ameren. “Our safety training is excellent,” Alford said. “Nobody panicked. We just worked together and knew what to do to help Mike.”
But luck was also involved. Alford says that normally, he and the other regulator technicians might be working in pairs or even alone. “So, if he had been by himself, it would have been a much different story,” said Alford. “I think we’re all thankful we were together and were able to help him.”
For Morris, who had been choking, it’s a day he won’t forget either. In an email to Ameren Illinois President Lenny Singh, he wrote: “I would like to thank you and Ameren for the life-saving classes and techniques that the employees learn. They really do save lives ... if not, I wouldn’t be here.”