Program Aims To Put Defibrillators In Churches

Several state organizations are banding together give churches the tools to save lives.

Gurnal Scott: State Representative Becky Carney of Charlotte will never forget April 2nd, 2009, the day a portable defibrillator revived her after a near-fatal heart attack at the General Assembly

Rep. Becky Carney: One story can propel a great movement within a community.

That story inspired the "Strive to Revive" program which seeks to distribute the life saving equipment. Now the program is going statewide with churches as its target. Baptist minister Jerome Washington says quickly aging congregations show this effort makes sense.

Rev. Jerome Washington: Approximately 104 worshipers a year will suffer sudden cardiac arrest while worshiping in American churches.

A coalition, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the American Red Cross and the North Carolina Council of Churches plans to outfit 150 churches with portable defibrillators over the next three years. With it will come CPR training for congregation members.