Partridge, owner of Emergency Response Training and Support Services (ERTSS) in Fayetteville presented the class to the St. Gabriel parishioners. Now, when a person collapses with a heart attack or other related problem, these parishioners will represent the various ministries in which they participate until the paramedics arrive.

The instructor also spoke about the emotional side of administering CPR and assured the students that the service they were providing would be a most rewarding experience.

There are over 350,000 deaths from sudden cardiac arrest each year including 7,000 children according to the American Red Cross. However, if people in ventricular fibrillation get the lifesaving AED shock within three minutes of collapsing, the survival rate could increase from five to 74 percent.

"It was a real eye-opening experience to attend this class," commented one parishioner after completing the course. "Just the thoughts of giving CPR to an infant was enough to make my insides shake," he said.

The defibrillator will be located near the center of the main building but will be portable where it could be carried to any number of parish events if the need presented itself.

The Catholic Church of St. Gabriel is at 152 Antioch Road, just south of the intersection of Highway 92 and Antioch Road. Fr. Jimmy Adams is pastor of the parish of over 500 families.