APS's Uribe Saves Customer's Life Performs CPR During Service Call

(From left) Uribe receives his Living the Vision award from Cea and Mulla.

Serviceman Bert Uribe joined the ranks of APS employees who have saved someone’s life in the line of duty.

Earlier this spring, Uribe arrived at a Chandler residence to exchange a meter. The routing service call had been rescheduled to allow the customer to contain his dog and as Uribe approached the customer’s door, he could hear the pit bull barking. Looking over the wall, Uribe saw the dog in its pen, and also saw the customer lying on his back on the patio, shaking violently.

Uribe rushed to help. 

“I ran in through the gate and was holding the man and shouting at him, trying to find out what was wrong when he just went limp,” said Uribe.

Uribe followed his safety training and checked for a pulse and breathing. Finding neither, he called 911 and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the man.

“It had been a while since my CPR class, but I remembered what to do,” said Uribe. “While I was working on him, his wife came out of the house and I was trying to keep her calm and had her help with the chest compressions.

“I don’t know how long we were at it, but a police officer was first on the scene, with paramedics right behind him. When they took over, I realized I was drenched in sweat and exhausted. I was happy to step back and let them do their job,” said Uribe.

The paramedics resuscitated the man and took him to the hospital. He later was released and is doing well.

The customer’s wife sent APS a note saying her husband, “wanted to let you know that Bert Uribe saved his life. He said he only remembers locking the dog away then awoke to find out the serviceman had without hesitation performed CPR and brought him back to life. Had Bert not done what he did would not be alive today. We are very grateful.”

Reflecting on the experience, Uribe said, “There’s the credo that you never have lived a perfect day until you can do something for someone who can’t repay. I had a perfect day and I was glad I was there and had the training to help.”

Uribe recommended everyone be trained in CPR and take periodic refresher courses.

“When I’m watching my grandkids in the pool, I’ve sometimes wondered how I would do if I had to use my CPR training,” said Uribe.

“If I have to do this again, I know I’ve got one under my belt and I’ll probably do it better next time.”

For his life-saving actions, Uribe received an APS Living the Vision Award presented by Section Leader Metro Meter Reading and Field Services Phil Cea, Jr. and Meter Technology and Operations Manager Sue Mulla.