MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — The Merrill Baseball Association has completed the installation of a publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillator at Athletic Park.
MBA Vice President Josh Klug, who is also the city’s Fire Chief, says until now the AED at the field has been kept in the concessions stand of the ballpark. Meaning when teams are holding games or practices without the stand being open, the machine isn’t accessible.
Now the device is stored on the outer wall of the concession stand and is accessible through a PIN system. If someone has a cardiac incident in the area, others will have to call 911 to request paramedics and get the PIN to unlock the machine.
Klug says he brought up the idea of a publicly accessible AED after seeing the Demar Hamlin incident play out on Monday Night Football last December. The MBA then unanimously approved spending $900 to install the machine.
“We are proud to help keep all of our athletes, coaches, and fans safe while attending beautiful Athletic Park,” said MBA President Shawn Schultz in a press release.
The Merrill Baseball Association would like to thank the supporters of their program who fundraise each year through various events. They would also like to thank the Merrill Fire Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for their support of the AED cabinet project.
