10-year-old visits firehouse to thank firefighters, receives new bike

Thursday morning, 10-year-old Alex Odell stopped by Maricopa Firehouse 572 to thank members of Maricopa Professional Firefighters Local 4561, who treated him after he was involved in a bicycle accident on  Saturday.

 

As a surprise, Local 4561 President Dan Ashton, along with Alex Huerta, son of local member Jimmy Huerta, presented Alex Odell with a new bicycle and bicycle helmet.

 

Also present were Alex’s family along with the crew that treated him, other members of Local 4561 and staff members from Capital Consultants Management Corporation, a Homeowners Association for the community of Tortosa.

 

On Saturday, Alex fell off his bike and was knocked unconscious.  Maricopa firefighters treated him on scene and transported him by helicopter to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for evaluation by a trauma team.

 

Alex was released from the hospital with only minor scraps and bruises. He was wearing a helmet that day and paramedic’s credit that fact for the good outcome.

 

Helmets are good for only one serious accident and then need to be replaced.

 

Local 4561 decided to donate a new bicycle helmet to Alex Odell replacing the damaged helmet. Alex Huerta, who is the same age as Alex Odell, decided to donate his new bicycle to Alex Odell as well.

 

Alex Odell said “Fire-Pals taught him to always practice bicycle safety, by wearing his helmet, and he tells his friends to wear their helmets, too.