News
Sheriff’s Deputies Help Save Man’s Life
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
Posted on:
The quick thinking actions of an Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputy helped to save the life of a man on Saturday afternoon.
Deputy Jason Wickmann and Deputy Jen Atkins responded to a call of a possible drug overdose at a residence on Big Bailey Run Road in Millfield.
When they arrived, Wickmann said they found the man in the bedroom not breathing, without a pulse and beginning to turn blue.
Wickmann gave chest compressions for what he estimated was 30 seconds before the man began to gasp for air. A visible pulse could then be seen in the man’s neck.
Athens County EMS arrived on scene about a minute later and the man was stabilized and transported by emergency squad.
This was the first time Wickmann has had to put his CPR training to use on the job, he said. He said he has completed yearly CPR training for the past seven years or so.
Wickmann has been employed with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office since March 2 as a full-time deputy, serving as a transport officer. Three weeks ago he began his STO training to become a road deputy for the office. The STO training is approximately a 12-week program in which the trainee rides along with another deputy.
Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith said he was very proud of both Wickmann and Atkins for the quick thinking efforts they showed on the call.
“Being alert as they were gave a person another chance at life,” said Smith.