Children of OLG help purchase lifesaving device

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To say that Johnston Firefighters Rescue Lt. Adam Pontbriant and Adam Woolley had some divine duty Sunday morning would be an understatement.

Just before the 10:30 mass at Our Lady of Grace Church began, Pontbriant pulled the Johnston Fire Department’s Rescue 3 near the Roman Catholic parish entrance at 4 Lafayette Street in a cool, calm and collective manner.

No, the Johnston Firefighters were not on a rescue mission. They came to OLG to explain about the unique gift – an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) – children of Rev. Peter Gower’s parish purchased as well as to take in a special presentation.

Pontbriant was invited to the church’s Ambo where Father Gower delivers his sermons to explain a new Rhode Island law that requires defibrillators in public places for large gatherings such as Sunday church services.

The General Assembly announced that legislation was signed into law last Thursday.

As Pontbriant told OLG’s parishioners and Father Gower reiterated just after people received communion: “The law requires public places in Rhode Island capable of holding 300 or more people to have an automated external defibrillator and a qualified person to administer it.”

Given that, Father Gower wanted the actual presentation of OLG’s defibrillator to be special, especially since the children of his family-oriented parish helped purchase the AED that cost $1,345.

“As goes everything here at Our Lady of Grace, we went right into action to make sure we could comply with this new law,” Father Gower said. “All our youth in the parish got together those who attend Catholic schools and children in our Religious Education program and donated everything from pennies to nickels to dimes and quarters.”

The priest also said that upwards of 160 youth brought in money weekly that they were saving to give to the AED program.

“I was ever so touched when all our children purchased the AED and presented it to me Sunday,” Father Gower said. “Today was without question super; the children collected over $900.”

Father Gower also announced “we will receive money from other sources to complete payment for the AED.”

Ironically, Johnston became the 17th town in Rhode Island to become a HeartSafe Community as sanctioned by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin, a Democrat and fellow party Rep. David Bennett sponsored the bill that and in doing so said “defibrillators save lives.”

Bennett, a registered nurse recently noted that more than 1,000 people in Rhode Island die from cardiac arrest each year. Goodwin says keeping defibrillators handy where big crowds gather could mean the difference between a tragedy and a life that’s saved.”

Sunday, Pontbriant – with assistance from many of the children whose coins helped purchased the AED – made it official and placed the small yet highly-important encased defibrillator in a cabinet that was recently installed inside the parish.

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