A Lifesaving Collaboration
When Russ Keckler started acting strangely in the fire pump room at Magna’s Highland Park division last October – struggling to hold his coffee cup and experiencing weakness – his coworkers noticed something immediately. They watched the signs add up. Something was off, and they knew it, even though Keckler insisted that he felt fine.
Waiting didn’t feel right. Doing nothing felt irresponsible. So Eric Sprau and David Fox made the call together. They notified 911, but didn’t even wait for the ambulance. Sprau bundled Keckler into his car and raced to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Testing revealed a stroke affecting Keckler’s left side. Because it was quickly identified, a drug was given to help break up a blood clot and reduce the damage.
Sprau and Fox don’t see themselves as heroes. Fox, a Magna facilities maintenance manager, is a father of three who’s patched up plenty of “boo-boos” but, as he joked, “can’t set a broken leg.” Sprau is a U.S. Navy veteran and Magna facilities engineer trained only in basic CPR.
“This is part of Magna’s culture. The people aspect is strong.”
Eric Sprau
Their confidence didn’t come from medical skill, it came from knowing Keckler, a Norplas Industries division facilities manager and tech whiz who travels among Magna divisions in Ohio and Michigan and can solve any problem.
“Russ is a storyteller,” explained Fox. “If you hang out, you’ll hear the stories about his beekeeping, grafting apple trees, sewing quilts and even once helping build a nuclear power plant.”
When someone like that suddenly can’t form a sentence or grasp your hand, you act.
Sprau said he recognized the stroke symptoms from an episode of a pawn shop reality show, proof that lifesaving instincts can come from anywhere. It took both Sprau and Fox to make the decision to get help.
“This is part of Magna’s culture,” explained Sprau. “The people aspect is strong.”
Adds Fox: “We care for each other.”
That moment – two people reading the situation and backing each other up – is a real-world example of “Be Collaborative,” a Magna Core Value.
David Fox
In the days that followed, the company brought employees together to talk openly about stroke symptoms and what to watch for. It was a continuation of the care already shown on the shop floor.
“My doctor told me you need to surround yourself with people like Dave and Eric who know you and how to identify a stroke – and get you to a hospital for help quickly,” said Keckler.
He returned to work after a short hospital stay. There were no speeches or fanfare, just a hug that acknowledged what a moment of courage and collaboration made possible.
Do you know the signs and symptoms of stroke, the second leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Stroke Organization? The key is to recognize symptoms, including speech difficulty, arm weakness and severe headache, appear suddenly. Getting to a hospital quickly saves lives and increases the chance for successful recovery. For more information go to the World Stroke Organization.
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