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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), the North Carolina Council of Churches, the American Red Cross and Rep. Becky Carney have selected Deep Creek Baptist Church as one of 150 places of worship across the state to participate in Strive to Revive.

The program aims to reduce deaths related to cardiovascular disease by providing automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR training to places of worship across North Carolina.

“Our congregation is committed to protecting the health of our members, and Strive to Revive helps us take this commitment to the next level,” said Fran Kiger, Leader of the Healthy Initiatives Ministry Program at Deep Creek. “With hundreds of people attending activities at our church each week, we have the potential to save lives and make a real difference in our community. Having the equipment and training available in our place of worship will continue the tradition of caring service that we at Deep Creek have always shown. As our church is like many with an aging membership, the “Strive to Revive” program will hopefully reduce cardiovascular disease related deaths in our community.”

Strive to Revive kicked off in Charlotte in 2010 by awarding 20 organizations with AEDs and CPR training. BCBSNC, the North Carolina Council of Churches, the American Red Cross and Rep. Becky Carney recently committed to expanding the program statewide by distributing AEDs and providing CPR training to an additional 150 places of worship.

“Imagine how scary it would be to stand by and watch a loved one go into cardiac arrest because you didn’t know CPR,” said Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO. “We want North Carolinians to feel prepared to react in a situation like this. Strive to Revive gives our communities the tools and training they need to take action in case of a cardiac emergency.”

Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., claiming up to 450,000 lives each year[i]. Strive to Revive focuses on organizations that attract large populations of individuals affected by heart disease, cardiac arrest and other health risk factors, including African Americans, Latinos, women and seniors.

To learn more about Strive to Revive or to apply for an AED and CPR training, visit www.healthandwholeness.org/strive-to-revive.