Working long days, in unfamiliar surroundings during a major storm restoration, can lead to bumps, bruises, and other medical concerns that should not be ignored. And that is the catalyst behind SWEPCO adding a medical station to the lineworker base camp at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds earlier this month.
“Over the years, we’ve got guys coming in from different states and we felt the need to educate them on hydration, triage, band aids, and getting them advice if they need further medical attention,” explained SWEPCO Safety and Health Manager John McCorkle.
For example, during the recent storm restoration in the SWEPCO service territory, McCorkle said workers from other states were exposed to alligators, fire ants, and chiggers for the first time in their lives, and for those who arrived in Shreveport this week to assist, the extra advice was well received.
“We see poison sumac, heat exhaustion, sunburn, dehydration, general cuts, bruises and sprains from the hard work they’re doing,” listed Medco paramedic Christian Neubauer, one of two medical staff members who manned their mobile direct response unit while in Shreveport.
Medco equips their mobile units with a patient’s bed and drawers of supplies to handle a host of medical issues.
The paramedics made the drive from Illinois on Monday, the day after damaging storms knocked out power to 61,000 SWEPCO customers. They were set-up and helping tree crews and lineworkers by Tuesday.
“AEP Safety & Health started in the fall putting this together and we had them on sight within 24 hours, so we’re pretty proud of that,” McCorkle added.
The plan evolved from a massive mutual aid response launched across multiple AEP operating companies, including PSO (Public Service of Oklahoma), in response to a powerful multi-state storm.
At SWEPCO, safety is deeply embedded in our culture and values. This commitment extends beyond our workforce and contractors to protecting the public within the communities in which we work and live.
“We are always looking to improve and provide resources to better care for our employees,” said Dwayne Apple Director of Safety and Health, SPP Region.
Last year, PSO Generation offered the services of a nurse they had onsite at one of our Power Plants to help restoration crews at a base camp in the Tulsa area. The nurse provided basic first aid and shared medical advice to out-of-state crews working in unfamiliar territory in the summer’s heat.
“It was a huge success and it just made sense to try it in other areas,” Apple added.
After a vetting process, Medcor was signed to offer medical services at any base camp at the request of the local incident commander.
Last weekend’s series of storms, which spawned multiple tornadoes across SWEPCO’s service territory on April 28, was the first time the new onsite medical program was deployed.