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Winther named Safety Person of the Year

A District 2 senior transportation technician has been named the Idaho Transportation Department’s Safety Person of the Year.

Tyrell Winther, of the Potlatch Maintenance Shed, is also an emergency medical technician and a volunteer with the Potlatch Rural Fire Department. Winther has translated those skills into learning opportunities for his D2 colleagues that focus on first aid, CPR and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) safety courses. He successfully secured an AED device for the Potlatch maintenance crew for use during medical emergencies on Idaho roadways.

“Ty has brought a lot of common sense and practical safety skills to the district and everyone is receptive to Ty and the knowledge he brings,” said D2 Foreman Bud Converse, Winther’s supervisor.

Winther uses real-life examples and scenarios in his training sessions that include responding to an accident scene or performing CPR on a crash victim.

“Our crew wants to understand how to respond in these situations in a straightforward way,” Winther said.

Winther will be recognized in a ceremony in Boise this fall.  He has been with ITD for 11 years.

Published 9-19-14