UPS driver puts life-saving skills to ultimate test
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
A Mapleton man trained in emergency rescue procedures was recently honored by the Katahdin Elementary School in Stacyville for helping save the life of a school employee.
United Parcel Service (UPS) driver Jeff Stephenson and school nurse Bev Cullins were recognized Sept. 12 for their efforts on a fateful day last May at the school.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
TOGETHER AGAIN — Getting together after Katahdin Elementary School’s recent “Heroes” assembly were, from left, Bev Cullins, Jeff Stephenson, Carol and Dickie McNally. Cullins and Stephenson were instrumental in saving McNally’s life in May.
The incident happened May 18 when Dickie McNally, the school’s maintenance man, had a heart attack and was unresponsive when he was found in the school building.
Cullins had begun CPR and treatment with emergency apparatus when Stephenson entered the building while on his normal delivery rounds.
“He came in and did some breathing,” Cullins explained. “He would have jumped off a cliff for me.”
Stephenson said he was on a routine delivery at the school, just like every day, and when he was leaving, “someone was yelling dial 9-1-1.”
“I jumped right on it to see what I could do,” he said. “Amazingly, he (McNally) is here today with no problems.”
“I don’t know what to say,” said McNally. “They saved my life. Simple as that. I do not know how to say anymore except, thank you, thank you, thank you. Of course, it’s hard to put into words.”
On hand for a the school-wide recognition assembly were William Paige, Northeast District health and safety manager; Kim Taylor, Maine division safety representative supervisor; and Tim Mahon, on-road supervisor for the Houlton and Presque Isle UPS facilities.
“Incredible,” said Mahon. “We have exposure to everyone every day. This is the only time [an incident] like this has ever happened. Unfortunately, it happened. Hopefully, no one has to go through it again. It was good that (Jeff) was there.”
Mahon said UPS drivers are not required to be CPR certified.
“Fortunately he was the day that happened,” Mahon added. “It’s just incredible.”
Stephenson who has coached basketball, soccer and baseball was trained for first aid. As a master Maine guide for the last 19 years, he is CPR certified, as well.
“I knew what to do,” he said. “I never actually have done it before and I never thought I would ever have to. But, it is always good to have that training.”
Stephenson said the special recognition wasn’t expected. “I was really surprised and excited,” he said. “It is not often you see representatives of UPS coming to northern Maine to talk to some employees. It was nice to see them. It’s really awesome.”
In spite of Stephenson’s humility, UPS administrators see him as a hero.
“I think any opportunity that an individual has to save another’s life in any type of capacity makes him a hero,” said Paige. “That’s why I came up here. I found out what was going on today and wanted to make sure he knew how much we appreciated the time he took to do the little bit he thinks he did.”
Paige said not many of the Northeast district’s 16,000 UPS employees would have known what to do in the same predicament.
“He was the right person at the right time,” Paige said.
According to Stephenson’s direct supervisor, Debbie Lunn, the incident has been a motivation for other drivers to learn CPR and other first responder aids.
Stephenson has been nominated for the Liberty Mutual Life Saver Award, which is given only to between 25 and 30 people nationwide annually. Stephenson will know later if he received the award.
“Thank you seems so small for giving me such a huge gift — a second chance at life,” said McNally to his lifesavers.
