POWERGRAMS

sAFETY While attending Alabama Power's First Responder Training last October, Jason Powers had no idea he would use those skills to save his child's life a month later. On Nov. 30, Powers was watching television in his Gardendale home when his wife Holly frantically came to him with their 1-year-old son, Jackson, who was red-faced and struggling to breathe after choking on cheese crackers. Powers said his response was automatic, thanks to his Alabama Power training. He first swiped Jackson's mouth with his finger and then struck him between the shoulder blades, without success. After administering the Heimlich maneuver three times, a glob of food popped out of the child's mouth, clearing his airway and allowing him to breathe. "I've encouraged our guys here to take advantage of these first- responder classes," said Powers, hydro compliance specialist for the Warrior and Tallapoosa river systems. "We always talk about being our brother's keeper. What better thing can you do for a brother than save his life? you never know whose life is in your hands." Powers is among four employees who received the 2014 Presidential Award of Honor, which was established in 1985 by the Central Safety Committee to recognize employees for saving or sustaining someone's life. "I know it's not nearly enough, but thank you for your efforts to help another in need," said President and CEO Mark Crosswhite, as he presented the awards at the annual Business Forum April 2-3. "Being of service to others is what our company was founded on, and I commend each one of you for continuing that legacy." Chris Langston, power system coordinator, Alabama Control Center, acted fast earlier this year when he saw one of his hunting buddies in danger. While cooking at a hunting lodge near Eufaula on Jan. 14, Langston noticed Larry Babin, 66, enter the kitchen holding his throat and turning blue. Langston administered the Heimlich maneuver twice, which removed the obstruction and allowed Babin to breathe. "It happened real fast," said Langston. "I didn't get nervous until it was over. That's when I started shaking and thinking, 'Oh, he could have died.' "But I don't take credit for something like that. It was the Big Man above who was looking out for Mr. Babin," Langston said. Last May, Plant Barry Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentice James Kyle joined his best friend, Mark Mooneyham, husband of Theodore Cogen Compliance and Support Specialist Angel Mooneyham, for a swim in Mobile Bay as they trained for a triathlon. Kyle was about 100 yards ahead of Mooneyham when he heard his friend call out for him. Turning around, Kyle saw a distressed Mooneyham and swam back to him. Mooneyham was incoherent as Kyle struggled in deep water to keep his friend afloat and stabilize him before leaving for help. Kyle swam to a pier where he asked a restaurant worker to call 911. He grabbed a flotation ring from a boat and swam to Mooneyham, placed him onto the ring and, fighting the current, pulled him to the pier. Kyle performed CPR for about 20 minutes before paramedics arrived. Mooneyham passed away two days later. "I really want to thank Alabama Power for allowing employees to have the opportunity to go to CPR classes," said Kyle, who rode Mooneyham's bicycle in the Grand Man Triathlon in honor of his friend. "Even with the tragic outcome, it gave Mark a better chance because I knew CPR." On Jan. 7, Randy Bullock was driving before dawn on Interstate 59 to Plant Gadsden when he glimpsed mysterious lights on the edge of his lane. He soon realized a truck had flipped onto the driver's side and was facing oncoming traffic. Stopping to lend a hand, Bullock focused on getting the disoriented driver out of the vehicle while another passerby called 911. "I used the flashlight on my phone to assess the situation and realized it could become dangerous because gas was leaking onto the ground," Bullock said. unable to open the passenger door, Bullock and the driver worked together to kick out the windshield, which had begun separating from the frame. After the driver slipped through the window, Bullock ensured the truck was no longer running and removed the keys. "I didn't think twice about stopping to help," said Bullock, Plant Gadsden chemical technician and safety taskforce chairman. "My training as an Eagle Scout, coupled with the safety reinforcement from the company, taught me to be prepared." By Carla Davis Four honored for extraordinary efforts 2 Jim Heilbron, Scott Moore, Langston, Powers, Kyle, Bullock and Crosswhite during presentation. The 2014 Business Forum in Birmingham was an occasion to honor the past efforts of employees and prepare for the challenges of the future. Photos throughout this issue by Wynter Byrd, Nik Layman and Christopher Jones. ON ThE COVER: Crosswhite presents award to Powers.

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