Merit Awards
Shown above is Vice President Ernest Morrison
(second from right) personally congratulating and
presenting Silver Merit Awards to (L to R) Groundman
Stacy Yarbrough, Operator Davis Johnson and Foreman
Charles Crosby who cared for a Florida Power &
Light employee suffering from heat exhaustion during
Tropical Storm Gabrielle operations last September.
Congratulations are also in order for Foreman and
Silver Merit Award winner Brad Wright (photo at
right) who was on the storm crew at the time and
assisted in cooling off the victim.
Two
men are alive today who might not have been, if
it hadn't been for the quick and persistent care
of Asplundh crews. Read on to find out about the
circumstances and join us in congratulating our
latest Silver Merit Award recipients.
When Tropical Storm Gabrielle hit Florida on September
14, 2001, Foremen Charles Crosby and Brad Wright
and Crew Members Davis Johnson and Stacy Yarbrough
of the Ernest Morrison Region in Georgia were sent
to the Sarasota area for storm work. On September
17, they were led to a work site by Substation Electrician
Don Campbell of Florida Power & Light.
As Mr. Campbell recalls, it was almost noon when
he began to feel faint. Moving to the back of one
of the trucks to steady himself, he suddenly collapsed
and passed out. The crew found him moments later
and realized that he was suffering from heat exhaustion.
As Mr. Campbell regained consciousness, they immediately
contacted his supervisor to arrange an ambulance.
Helping him into a shady spot, they cooled him down
with wet rags and cool drinking water.
Mr. Campbell wrote, "In my view, these men
may have very well saved my life with their quick
thinking and caring gestures. If they had not come
to my aid, I doubt if I could have gotten to my
truck on my own to get water or anything else, even
if I had recognized what my problem was."
Great job, guys!
Vice President Tom McDonnell (left)
proudly presented Silver Merit Awards to
Foreman Russell Harrell (center) and Lead
Foreman Tommy Fitzgerald (right) who assisted
and arranged medical care for an elderly
man who had fallen on an icy road in January
and was knocked unconscious. Trimmer/Climber
Robbie Fitzgerald also received an award,
but was unavailable for this photo.
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At the other extreme of weather, it was a cold and
snowy January 3 in Fredericksburg, Virginia when
Lead Foreman Tommy Fitzgerald, Foreman Russell Harrell
and Crew Member Robbie Fitzgerald met an 86-year-old
man who asked them about their work on his property
for Dominion Virginia Power. As he left to return
to his house, he slipped on the icy road and fell,
knocking himself unconscious. The crew quickly came
to his aid, brought him back to consciousness and
helped him into his home. Although the crew asked
if they could call the rescue squad, the gentleman
refused and said he felt fine. However, the crew
continued to worry about his condition and spoke
to a neighbor who was a nurse. Together they were
able to get him to go to the emergency room. Suffering
from pinched nerves in his spinal cord, he was released
from the hospital three days later.
Kathryn Purks, the gentleman's daughter wrote in
an e-mail to President Scott Asplundh, "My
family and I are so indebted to (your crew) for
their caring attitude and genuine concern for a
total stranger ... We commend you for your company's
outstanding selection of crewmen."
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