A life-saving encounter for Verizon Wireless’ regional president Jerry Fountain has resulted in the company offering free classes on CPR and the Heimlich maneuver to all Upstate employees. In January, a small group of Verizon employees were enjoying a celebratory dinner together at restaurant when one began to choke on her meal. Fountain, who was dining at the same restaurant, observed two individuals try unsuccessfully to perform the Heimlich maneuver on their colleague and rushed over to employ training he received years before to dislodge the food and free her breathing.
“I was so genuinely happy to have been there and been able to help,” said Fountain. “At Verizon, part of our company credo is to run to a crisis. That conditioning along with the first aid training I received more than 25 years ago helped save a life.”
Verizon currently has an onsite wellness center at the regional headquarters building and supports workplace wellness through a fitness center, health and nutrition classes and annual wellness events. Starting in March, the wellness center will now offer first aid classes on CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. To ensure easy access to the new training, employees from across the Upstate will be excused from work to attend.
Find out what's happening in Mauldinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“We take the health of our employees very seriously and design wellness programs to help them balance work with a healthy lifestyle,” adds Fountain. “This new CPR class will take this commitment to another important level.”