‘Attentive eyes and ears in our communities’

Safety manager receives Good Neighbor Award for stepping in and potentially saving a life

On the evening of March 29, Great River Energy Generation Services Manager Jackie Bentz was at a cabin with some friends, including one friend’s mother and 70-year-old boyfriend. While eating, the man began choking on his steak. He put his hand to his throat and was clearly in fear. He got up, went to the bathroom and closed the door.

Bentz, who is the safety manager for Great River Energy’s power supply division, recognized this behavior immediately.  Choking victims will often go to the bathroom or hide the fact that they are choking, thinking they can clear the debris on their own.

Bentz followed him, got him out of the bathroom and administered the Heimlich maneuver, eventually dispelling the lodged material. Without the quick thinking and action that Bentz took, the man likely would have stayed in the bathroom and not been able to make it.

To recognize her quick thinking and action, Great River Energy President and Chief Executive Officer David Saggau awarded Bentz with a Good Neighbor Award of Excellence at an all-employee meeting.

Great River Energy’s Good Neighbor Program is a public service project designed to encourage the use of cell phones, two-way radio communications, first-aid and CPR skills to assist people in and around the communities the cooperative serves with emergencies.

“The Good Neighbor Program is a volunteer community service program which offers a helping hand and more sets of attentive eyes and ears in our communities. By encouraging our employees to use their skills and resources to help others, we hope to improve the odds that help will be nearby when needed. We are very proud of Jackie and the swift action she took,” Saggau said.