THIS WEEK IN PENSACOLA.
After attending admissions and orientation, I was assigned to a job in food services. The good news is I am in sanitation services as opposed to culinary arts. Basically, I mop the floors, clean the equipment and take out the trash and recycling. I work Monday through Friday, 8:30 until 3:00. It is not as bad as it sounds. Perks include working in an air-conditioned environment and some leftovers from the staff dining room.
Some guys in my orientation group were assigned to very difficult jobs. Tim (hedge fund guy) was assigned to the Eglin military base. He leaves everyday at 5:30 a.m. on a bus and returns at 4:30 p.m. He performs outdoor landscaping services at the base where the summer heat index regularly exceeds 110 degrees. It is not a position for everyone.
Yesterday, a man collapsed on the track. His heart had stopped and He was not breathing. A prisoner gave him CPR until the staff arrived and took over. The good news is we were told the gentleman survived his massive heart attack and is resting in a local hospital following emergency heart surgery. The prison staff deserves an award for saving this man’s life. I have new found respect for the staff after watching this incident unfold.
The stricken prisoner apparently caused the staff to shut down visitation for the day. One of my cellie’s had relatives drive over 500 miles for a 15 minute visit. Later, several prisoners expecting visits talked to their loved ones who were turned away at the prison gate. They were allegedly told that there had been a fight on the compound and that all of the prisoners were locked down. I can assure everyone that no fight occurred and everyone (other than the gentleman who experienced the heart attack) is safe and sound. I am puzzled as to why the staff would allegedly give misinformation to prospective visitors, but then again, such things are above my pay grade.
It is hot in Pensacola!
Ken Flaska
