State trooper gives first aid to bleeding construction worker

By Sarah N. Mattero, Globe Correspondent

A state trooper put his first aid training to work this morning when a construction worker accidentally cut deeply into his wrist while working on a highway project in Danvers, State Police said.

Trooper Jeffrey Gendreau was working a detail at around 7:40 a.m. at the Route 62 and Route 128 intersection when a 30-year-old laborer slashed his right wrist while cutting plastic sheeting and approached the trooper for help.

“At that point, I went to the trunk, pulled out my bag, and applied the first aid with the training I received,” Gendreau said. “I don’t use it often, but when it’s necessary you recall the training very quickly.”

Gendreau quickly applied dressings and tourniquets to control bleeding from the arterial wound. Gendreau said the man remained very calm and fully aware despite some rapid blood loss. “It was pretty deep,” Gendreau said of the wound.

A few minutes later, the Danvers fire department and an ambulance service arrived. The man was taken to Beverly Hospital.

“I was just glad to be there when he needed help,” Gendreau said.