By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
January 15, 2008

Odell firefighter and medical services volunteers pitched in to make it possible for the department to buy a portable Lifepak 12 Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) unit.

District tax dollars paid half of the $5,000 cost while firefighters chose to pay for the other half with money from their “In Memory Of” Fund.

“Our community has been really, really gracious to us,” said Dwight Moe, the department’s assistant chief.

Over the years people have made donations in memory of those helped by the department. The volunteers dictate how those dollars are spent.

The department previously had a more basic AED unit but this equipment is a full diagnostic device.

“It does everything; it tells the EMT how to read the heart rhythm whether it’s too fast or too slow,” said Fire Chief Greg Borton.

The machine also measures blood oxygen and, if needed, can be used to administer a shock to restart a heart that has stopped.

Because Odell doesn’t have an ambulance but has first responders and paramedics who are frequently first on the scene, Borton said it is even more important that they have equipment that is mobile.

With the Lifepak 12, they can save critical time helping patients by stabilizing them at the scene until the ambulance unit arrives for transport.

“This equipment saves time and helps save lives,” Borton said. “It assists us in continuing to provide the best care to the Odell community and surrounding area.”

The Odell Fire Department will train on the new equipment next week.