Silver Line's Decision to Purchase Defibrulators Proves a Lifesaver at North Brunswick, NJ Manufacturing Facility

Silver Line Building Products purchased Automatic External Defibrulators for all company sites as part of a company-wide health and safety initiative. The decision has already proven a life saver.

North Brunswick, NJ (PRWEB) January 8, 2004 --Several months ago, Ken Silverman, President of Silver Line Building Products Corporation in North Brunswick made the decision to purchase Automatic External Defibrillators and install them in each of their six manufacturing facilities. At the time, his feeling was that the company would probably never need or use them, but the peace of mind it gave him to know that his employees had one more important safety layer was worth the expense.

Silverman runs Silver Line Building Products, the leading U.S. manufacturer of vinyl windows. In the course of a business day, Silverman makes many decisions. Little did he know just how prescient and fortunate his decision to purchase AEDs would be.

On Friday, October 3, Ricardo (Jose) Reyes arrived for his regular shift at Silver Lines North Brunswick, New Jersey manufacturing facility, as he has for the past thirteen years. As a shipping foreman, Reyes had his usual routine: check the boards and prioritize the must loads" and special orders, then plan the rest of his nights work. But this night would be different.

Reyes had arrived at work not feeling well. Shortly after beginning his shift, he began to have trouble breathing. When he plaintively called to his teammates, Help me! I cant breathe!" their training kicked in, and they knew exactly what to do.

Silver Line has a long history and a reputation in the industry for employee workplace safety. Part of that reputation has been built through planning, preparation and drilling for various emergency situations, including having designated Emergency Response Teams who are trained and drilled to respond to a variety of situations. In Reyes case, the Emergency Response Team headed by Robert J. Lemaszewski, Safety Manager was quickly at his side.

Lemaszewskis team, which included Glass Manager Mike Demelio, Shipping Dock Manager Carlos Mendoza, and Warehouse Manager Rich Conte, immediately took control of the situation, performing a variety of pre-determined roles. First, Reyes vital signs were checked, and it was determined that both breathing and pulse had stopped. Knowing from their training that restoring blood circulation and oxygen quickly is critical, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was immediately begun, and the AED was readied.

The AED is an incredible innovation that is credited with saving lives on commercial jetliners, in hotels, and in workplaces around the world. It was quickly hooked up to Reyes, and began to read his vital signs. To the Emergency Response Team, the short few seconds that it took the machine to do its readings seemed like an eternity. Finally, the machine signaled the worst-case scenario, Shock Advised -- Press Orange Button."

Lemaszewski ordered the all clear" so that the rest of the team would be protected, and he pushed the button, sending 280 Joules of potentially life saving electricity directly to Reyes heart, in the hopes of re-starting a pulse. The electric shock literally lifted Reyes off the floor. Then he gasped a sharp breath on his own. Then another, and the AED registered a pulse. The ambulance arrived, and the paramedics took over and transported Reyes to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where Reyes began his recovery from cardiac arrest.

Over the years, Silver Lines Emergency Response Teams have answered literally hundreds of calls to assist teammates through a variety of personal and work-related emergencies. They perform this service as a voluntary service -- above and beyond their regular job responsibilities. In this particular case, the combination of Silvermans unquestionably good decision to purchase AEDs, the training and exemplary response of the Emergency Response Team, and coolness with which everyone did their part resulted in a life saved.

Silver Line Building Products was founded in 1947. The company is continually developing new, innovative products, refining manufacturing technologies and providing unparalleled value to its customers. The company currently employs over 6000 workers and has facilities in New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia and Texas. For more information about Silver Line Windows please call (732) 937-5800 or you may visit their web site at www.silverlinewindow.com, or call Jason Ledder at The R&J Group at (973) 331-1070.
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