Eddie (L) and Evan (R).
In January 2020, Evan Huglen, a Level I Superintendent at EMJ Construction, took a required CPR and life-saving course. A little more than a year later, he used the training to help save a life.
Shortly before 8 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, Evan heard an EMJ Construction subcontractor on the jobsite shouting for someone to call 911. He rushed outside to find Eddie Jereda convulsing and having difficulty breathing.
Evan stayed on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, giving directions to the response team. When Evan informed the dispatcher that Eddie had stopped breathing and lost consciousness, he was instructed to begin CPR.
“You don’t have much time to think, it’s all so fast,” said Huglen. “The thing to keep in mind is that the chest compressions are easy, but the critical part is keeping a cool head. You are fighting to save someone’s life. You have to remind yourself not to panic and that you can do this.”
After Evan administered several compressions, Eddie regained consciousness and started breathing again. The paramedics arrived, and he was able to stand up and be transported to the hospital.
“Our superintendents are people of action,” said Jack Bowen, President of EMJ Construction. “While I’m proud of Evan, I’m not a bit surprised that he responded so aptly. This is why we train, so that we can respond without thinking.”
EMJ Construction has an extensive safety program. As part of that program, superintendents are trained in Basic First Aid and Adult CPR. This training is equivalent to the training prescribed by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. The certification is current for two years.
“You never know when this is going to happen,” said Erik Helms, owner of CPR Experts and the trainer of Evan’s 2020 class. “A lot of times people are scared when they do CPR, but it’s an important skill. Our job is teaching you how to save a life. Our training can save a life—and it works.”
We are thankful to report that Eddie Jereda was treated at the hospital and released. He has made a full recovery. Evan Huglen joined EMJ Construction in July 2019. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2018 with a B.S. in Environmental Science. We are thankful to have employees like Evan on our jobsites, embodying EMJ’s purpose: to be people serving people.
Learn more about CPR Experts Training.
