All of Limbwalker’s production tree-crew members recently underwent training in First Aid, CPR, and the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). The American Red Cross course was led by instructor Richard Allen at the Limbwalker shop. The twelve crew members who participated in the training were instructed in how to recognize, assess, and respond to common medical emergencies. Their new skills include treating victims for shock, helping a choking victim, responding to cardiac emergencies, and rendering First Aid in a variety of emergency situations.

Emergency preparedness and ongoing training is a cornerstone of our safety program. This emergency medical training further ensures that our team members stay current with all of the knowledge and tools they may need to perform their work safely. Instructor Allen also assessed the contents of the custom First Aid kits, which are standard on all of Limbwalker’s vehicles, to make sure that our crews have access to any resources they would need to respond to most emergency scenarios.

Our first Arborist In Residence (AIR) for 2010 was Josephine Hedger. Josephine operates a tree care service in the United Kingdom. She was the 2008 Women’s World Tree Climbing Champion. She also set a new world record for the Women’s Footlock at that competition, climbing 40 feet in an incredible 15.88 seconds.

Josephine was interested in coming to Limbwalker Tree Service after hearing the experiences of previous AIR participants and discovering the sunny attitude and friendship of the tree care industry in the United States. Josephine worked with our crews for 6 days prior to a tree climbing competition in Charlotte, NC. She returned to Louisville to work and play for an additional week, after the Icelandic volcano eruption suspended flights back to Europe.

Even after long hours in heat and humidity she is not accustomed to, her attitude was fantastic and her stamina and willingness to work were remarkable. Working with such an adept and experienced climber was a fantastic opportunity for our arborists and a chance for everyone to share skills and ideas. We have all also made a great friend. We asked her to share some of the highlights of her visit…

“I had the opportunity to climb species of trees which we do not see here in the UK. The highlight for me was climbing some huge beautiful Pin Oak trees, as they do not get that big here. We also had some difficult trees to work on, and to me that is the challenge of this job that I love. Finally, as someone who runs a tree care company, it was refreshing to turn up to a job I hadn’t seen, do the work, and be finished for the day. Most people think that I am mad to want to go on holiday and work, but climbing trees in my eyes isn’t work….just one big playground!

This was the best ‘holiday’ I have ever had. Limbwalker made me very welcome. Everyone that works there is a great individual character, I was pleased to rotate around the crews and work with everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Limbwalker (both at work and at play) and would highly recommend the AIR program.”

Thanks Josephine. Good luck in your upcoming European competitions, and we hope to be cheering you on in Chicago at this year’s international competition!!!