By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
PONCHATOULA – First Baptist Church in Ponchatoula is counting their blessings after an automated external defibrillator (AED) the congregation received years ago saved the life of one of its deacons.
The incident occurred as parents and teenagers gathered for a lunch and meet-and-greet with the church’s prospective youth minister on Aug. 9. Suddenly, a deacon fell back and burst his head.
Byron Willie, a member of the church and the Ponchatoula Fire Department, was just outside the building when he called to the scene. A circle of prayer was formed while Willie performed CPR.
David Cranford, pastor of the church, soon arrived with the church’s AED and the deacon was brought back to life.
Willie said he is thankful God prevented what could have been a tragic situation.
“Everyone is saying y’all saved that man’s life,” Willie said. “I told them God put that man in the right place at the right time with the right people. God took care of everything else.”
An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses irregular heartbeats to could lead to cardiac arrest in a patient. When used, the device can help re-establish an effective rhythm in a person.
Through a grant the church had applied for through the Hammond Fire Department, they received the AED at no cost. Willie said churches interested in receiving an AED should contact their local fire department and they too may qualify to get one. Training is needed to operator the device but that is usually conducted by a fire department or another certified first responder.
The only costs to the church are any maintenance fees in the future.
“If you ever need it, it’s really worth it,” Willie said. “That Sunday it really did its job. The sooner you can jump start the heart, the better it is for the patient and the chances of saving a life go up dramatically.”
Josh Dickson, minister of discipleship at First Baptist Ponchatoula, stressed the need for churches to get access to an AED.
“When the emergency occurred, people stepped up and a team came together to minister to the physical need,” he said. “Every church in Louisiana should be prepared and equipped with an AED should the need arise.”
