From left, Zach Jumper stands next to Adam Hogue, who receives the award Tuesday from Chip Pickering, a board member for the American Red Cross, along with two fellow board members Tammy White and Doug Frary. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

WASHINGTON, W.Va. — Anyone can be a hero, and on Feb. 6, Adam Hogue didn’t shy away when co-worker Zach Jumper was injured on the job.

Jumper’s arm was caught in a machine and completely severed that day at an industrial warehouse in Washington,W.Va.

Hogue, who had never received any medical training, acted quickly, applying a tourniquet to stop the bleeding until EMS got there. Hogue walked Jumper outside to await help, stayed and kept him calm, and retrieved the severed limb to be placed on ice.

When first responders arrived, Capt. Garry Freed with Washington Bottom Volunteer Fire Department was impressed by Hogue and later nominated him for the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action, which Hogue received Tuesday. This is the first time the award has been presented by the Red Cross in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“People like Adam exemplify the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies and are to be commended for their willingness to help others in distress,” said Sharon Kesselring, executive director of the American Red Cross of Northwest West Virginia.

“We (first responders) as trained individuals don’t think, we jump in as soon as someone is in trouble, but Hogue did not possess that experience. Yet, he still acted without hesitation,” Freed said.

Freed also thanked the 9-1-1 dispatchers, who had an ambulance headed to the scene within one minute and 47 seconds, which is below the national average of three minutes.

The call came in at 8:46 p.m., and an ambulance was on scene at 9 p.m.

“We count on a volunteer workforce to respond to emergency events such as accidents and fires and that workforce is dwindling. Anyone can become trained how to respond to these emergencies in case a situation arises,” said Freed.

EMS Shawn Marshall said it depends on many factors, but Jumper had a high chance of bleeding out before first responders arrived had it not been for Hogue’s tourniquet.

Marshall and his EMS partner Paul Walkup had exhausted bandages and applied a second tourniquet before reaching a Pittsburgh hospital. Thanks to everyone involved, Jumper was able to have his arm reattached and has begun regaining movement and feeling in it.

“I can feel hot and cold with my hand, move my thumb and move my arm on my own,” Jumper said.

Freed said he was grateful to be able to see how far Jumper has come in recovery.

“We see the bad things, but we don’t always get to see the outcome of patients,” said Freed.