Working as a supervisor for the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps, Andrew Martinez has an elaborate job description.

On any given day, he might find himself managing work crews beautifying Whittier Narrows or reinforcing isolated hillsides prone to flash floods in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Of course, should a nearby citizen go into cardiac arrest, Martinez, 32, has been trained by the county of Los Angeles in the art of saving lives.

Last April, after refilling his water truck while working at Whittier Narrows, the Whittier man did just that.

"There was a gentlemen who was jogging and went into cardiac arrest. Some guys were there and they flagged me down and said, `Hey, do you know CPR?' I said, `Yes, I'm CPR certified."'

Martinez began performing the procedure on the unconscious man whose skin had turned purple. Within minutes, the man gasped for air.

Los Angeles Sheriff's deputies and paramedics arrived on the scene and transported the unidentified elderly man, who Martinez hasn't seen since, to a local hospital.

"A week or two after the incident, the police officer saw me and we were talking. He told me the guy is doing fine. He's OK," the father of five said.

It's not the first time he has saved a life. Last year, while driving his work truck along the San Bernardino (10) Freeway through Monterey Park, Martinez noticed a car weaving in and out of the lane ahead of him.

"I was assuming

this guy was drunk or having a stroke."

Martinez and a co-worker, who was operating another vehicle, flipped their hazard lights on and boxed the driver in.

"We slowed him down and guided him off the freeway. I used my van to block off his van and if he hit the gas he would drive into my van and not traffic."

Martinez approached the driver, who was in medical distress and rendered aid until help arrived.

"It's been a pretty outrageous year." Martinez joked.

On Tuesday night Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina recognized Martinez for his heroics at Whittier Narrows during the board's regular meeting.

He was presented with the board's highest commendation, known as the five-signature scroll. The scroll, which is signed by each of the county supervisors, contains a brief summary of what the recipient is recognized for.

"In this case, he saved the lives of at least two people," said Molina's spokeswoman Roxane Marquez. "The county offers these CPR classes precisely for events like this ... and two people are alive today that otherwise wouldn't have been."

Executive Director of the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps Danny Oaxaca praised the CPR program, which was funded by the Board of Supervisors.

He noted that in the case of the jogger at Whittier Narrows, the program had unexpected benefits.

"These guys have to have CPR and first aid (training). They could be up there cutting trees and fall and break an ankle," Oaxaca said. "It doesn't hurt that they get their CPR. Look, it came to fruition on this elderly gentleman."

brandon.ferguson@sgvn.com

562-698-0955, ext. 3024