The Michigan Laborers’ Training and Apprenticeship Institute (MLTAI) is one of over 70 LIUNA training centers across the U.S. and Canada that helps Laborers acquire the skills they need to be productive and safe on construction sites. By training our students in CPR and first aid, we help ensure that our members are looking out for each other and go home to their families at the end of each work day. A recent incident on a construction site in Ann Arbor, Michigan reinforced the importance of that CPR training.
On February 15th, Darryl Tipton (pictured left), just a few months from retirement, was the victim of a sudden cardiac arrest while at work. His co-worker, Remo Byrd (pictured right), was coming back from lunch when he heard a radio call for help and went to see what was going on. He discovered Darryl on the ground and immediately jumped in to do what he could. After communicating with a dispatcher on the phone and scanning the situation, Remo realized Darryl wasn’t breathing and knew he needed to start chest compressions. He began CPR, which he continued until an ambulance arrived. Fortunately, Darryl regained consciousness shortly after the incident and is already back at work.
On March 16th, a safety luncheon was held to honor these men. Remo was given the “Good Samaritan Award” from the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), which was presented by MLTAI Training Director Lynn Coleman. Darryl was all smiles at the luncheon. He hugged Remo and proudly proclaimed, “He’s my brother now. My brother for life!”
Taking a CPR Training Class Can Make A Big Impact
Remo took his first CPR/AED/First Aid training class with us in March, 2017. I have been a registered nurse for 34 years, and happened to be the instructor for this class. At the safety luncheon, I got a chance to reflect on this miraculous recovery.
I’ve been teaching CPR for a long time. We’ve had our students save friends, family members or neighbors before but this is the first save of a co-worker. I did the training but they did the work. There’s so many things that had to come together in the right way at the right time.
Meet Darryl, Laborers’ Local 499 Member
Darryl, a 24-year veteran LIUNA member, is described by his co-workers as lively and good spirited – always joking around and making friends. When asked if he had anything else to say to Remo, Darryl replied, “I sure am glad he didn’t sleep through that CPR class!”
Meet Remo, Laborers’ Local 499 Member
Remo has served as a LIUNA member for seven years. After the luncheon, he took a moment to reflect on how it felt to see his co-worker Darryl back on the job.
“I don’t feel like a hero. I just did what I was supposed to do. I don’t feel like it took anything extra for me to jump in there and do my part. But it feels good to see Darryl back. He’s always laughing and carrying on. He makes other people laugh. It brought peace to me when I got the phone call that Darryl pulled through. It was like a weight was lifted off of me.”
About MLTAI’s & Other LIUNA Training CPR Courses
MLTAI trains 300-500 students per year in CPR/AED/First Aid. This year, we’re on track to beat that number, with approximately 200 students already trained as of mid-March 2018. Michigan Laborers’ CPR Training Course alums have saved at least three other lives. These classes give Laborers the skills to take care of the people around them – in their homes, in their communities, and on challenging worksites.
Kim Dennison, RN
Are you interested in getting a CPR certification? To enroll in a class, submit an application at http://mltai.org/. If you have any questions, contact Kim Dennison, RN at 517-625-4513 or kdennison@mltai.org. For CPR training courses elsewhere in the Great Lakes Region or in other LIUNA Regions across the U.S. and Canada, contact www.liunatraining.org/find-training.
This piece originally appeared in the May 2018 issue of the Michigan Laborer Magazine created by Michigan Laborers’ District Council.
[Kim Dennison is a Registered Nurse and Instructor at Michigan Laborers’ Training and Apprenticeship Institute.]
