Custodians to the Rescue

As we wrap up 2021, CMM would like to remember some of the cleaning professionals who went out of their way to protect their facilities and the people (and animals) within them. These custodians and housekeepers took work pride to a new level and even provided cheer.

Hospital custodian helps save anesthesiologist

Kendal Hofstad, a custodian at Alomere Health in Alexandria, Minnesota, was collecting trash throughout the hospital last spring when he spotted what he thought were some discarded scrubs on the floor. Upon taking a closer look, he discovered Dr. Amos Szainer, an anesthesiologist at the hospital, unconscious on the floor.

Hofstad immediately called for help. After 12 minutes of CPR, Szainer was transported to CentraCare in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where a doctor found a large blood clot in one of his heart’s arteries and performed a life-saving procedure.

School custodian protects building from flooding

When a sensor alarm alerted Peter Hemans, head custodian at Hackensack Middle School in New Jersey, that the school was in danger of flooding due to remnants of Hurricane Ida, he didn’t hesitate. He jumped in his car and drove to the building, even though it was 11 p.m. and flooded roads forced him to take numerous detours.

Once he finally arrived, Hemans redirected the sump pump to stop water from pouring into the facility. He stayed at the school all night to make sure the sump pump continued working. The custodian’s efforts allowed the school to open on time for the 2021-2022 school year. Hemans said the lack of sleep was worth it to see the happy faces of the students.

Hotel housekeepers help return endangered sea turtles to nature

Housekeepers at the Admiral’s Inn in Tybee Island, Georgia, were instrumental in finding a turtle ambassador for a local science center, then securing her release back into nature three years later.

The housekeepers found six endangered loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings in a guest room wastebasket in 2018. They immediately contacted experts at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, who released five of the turtles into the ocean.

The science center had recently released their last loggerhead ambassador and was due for a new one. One of the hatchlings, Admiral, or Abby for short, spent the last three years at the center, helping teach visitors about turtle conservation and the dangers of marine debris, until her release this summer.

Hospital housekeeper spreads cheer through singing

Paul Flamand, a custodian at South County Hospital in Wakefield, Rhode Island, began singing to the staff and patients at the hospital during the coronavirus pandemic to keep up their spirits. Flamand sang in a group with several family members and enjoyed singing Christmas carols to nursing home residents until the pandemic closed facilities to visitors.

So, he sang while he cleaned the hospital and during a small celebration the hospital arranged for nursing students after their graduation ceremony was canceled. Last fourth of July weekend he and his singing family members were finally able to perform at the hospital. A video of the group singing “God Bless America” garnered positive feedback on the hospital’s social media accounts.