WEAT Medal of Honor for Heroism

MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HEROISM AWARD

… recognizes an individual (or group of individuals) from the State of Texas who has demonstrated exceptional courage and bravery in the performance of a single act of heroic behavior involving the water environment industry.

Rodney Sanders

On April 10, 2021, Josh Graham and his two sons were swimming at Surfside Beach in Brazoria County when they began to struggle in the water. Josh saved his children from the strong riptide, but he struggled to save himself. Rodney Sanders, a wastewater operator at the City of Sugar Land, was also in the area with his family. When Rodney saw Josh struggling, he took off into the water to try to save him. Rodney was just one of the people in the area who wanted to help. The current was so strong that it took several minutes for him to reach Josh. Josh was unresponsive when Rodney reached him. Another person brought a surfboard out, and they lifted Josh on it. Rodney tried to start compressions right away, but the tide’s strong current made the task very difficult. He and Mike Lampson, another person trying to help save Josh, decided to link up arms and get Josh to the shore. Rodney and others performed CPR until an ambulance arrived to transport Josh to the hospital. Sadly, Josh did not survive. Rodney risked his life to save another. Since the incident, Rodney has tried to bring more awareness to the risk of rip currents. He and Mike are actively working with the Rescue Tube Foundation in Hawaii to bring rescue tubes to Surfside Beach and other beaches around the country that do not have lifeguards on staff. Rodney and Mike are trying to turn the tragedy into something positive for Texans and their safety around bodies of water. Both Rodney and Mike received training in survival swimming in the military. Thank you, Rodney, for your heroic efforts that day and your continued focus on awareness of rip currents and actively bringing rescue tubes to beaches. You are truly deserving of the WEAT Medal of Honor for Heroism Award.

Texas Section American Water Works Association Competitions

• Junior Meter Challenge (Tuesday) • Meter Challenge (Tuesday) • Pipe Tapping (Wednesday) • Top Ops (Wednesday) • Best Tasting Drinking Water (Wednesday) • Hydrant Hysteria (Wednesday)

The above awards are presented at the competition location following each competition.

MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HEROISM AWARD

… recognizes an individual (or group of individuals) from the State of Texas who has demonstrated exceptional courage and bravery in the performance of a single act of heroic behavior involving the water environment industry.

Darrell Poore

On June 29, 2021 around 11:15 a.m., a May Day call was dispatched on the radio at the Dallas Water Utilities’ Central Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Two young subcontractors were installing new electrical switchgear at the plant when they were electrocuted with high voltage electricity. The tool placed in the energized cabinet by one of the workers as a part of troubleshooting activities had come into direct contact with the energized phase of the breaker, causing a direct ground and arc flash event.

As a result of this arc flash, both workers sustained third-degree burns and suffered other severe burns on their upper bodies, faces, and hands. They also inhaled smoke from the accident.

None of the workers were wearing the required PPE for working within the vicinity of an energized switchgear, which includes arc flash suits or flame-retardant coveralls with a face shield. Both workers sustained first- and second-degree burns from the electrocution.

Their injuries required immediate medical treatment. The entire Central Wastewater Treatment Plant lost power because of the arc flash explosion. Staff within the vicinity of the damaged switchgear heard the explosion and used the radio to communicate the incident and the need for immediate aid.

Darrell Poore and his team were first on the scene to respond. Darrell protected both workers from further harm and ensured they were still breathing. Darrell’s team member immediately contacted 911, sought prompt medical attention for the workers, terminated the fire, and secured the incident scene.

Darrell played a decisive role in this situation by leading his team members with clear and calm directions. His team extracted and transferred the injured workers to an open air space and evacuated all others working in the immediate risk area. Darrell checked the wounded workers for associated trauma, bleeding, fractures, head injury, and respiratory distress. Both workers were rushed to the Parkland Hospital in Dallas by ambulance with severe burns and related injuries. Darrell promotes and maintains workplace safety by emphasizing safety as the critical priority, enforcing and monitoring sound risk management conventions, ensuring that all safety rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures are followed, and integrating the city’s 4E steps (Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, and Equity) at the beginning of each workday or daily assignment.