On December 5, 2019 Bob Odegard suffered a heart attack.
Odegard said quick response times and life saving efforts like CPR and AED shocks from first responders, police and fire/EMS saved his life.
He said he’s feeling healthy now in his retirement.
During his career, he spent 33 years with the Merrill Fire Department.
“When this program started with defibrillators, where you can shock the patient and start the heart again, I was in the test group when they first were brought to Wisconsin and actually delivered the first shock that brought someone back in Lincoln County,” Odegard said. “So to come full circle around and have me benefit from it was tremendous.”
Odegard presented the Merrill Fire Department with a $1,000 check on Thursday.
The money will go toward first aid supplies for the department.