According to the American Heart Association, a person dies of heart attack every minute nationwide. Officials of Johns Creek are taking steps to improve victims' chances of survival.

A program to put defibrillators in each of the city's 29 patrol cars has prompted the AHA to name the Johns Creek as Georgia's First "Heart Ready City." The city also is placing the lifesaving devices in municipal buildings, and city parks. Firetrucks also come equipped with heart resuscitation device.

Defibrillators send an electrical shock to the heart to restore the heart rhythm to a normal pace.

"This designation is due to the hard work and dedication of the city's leaders in their commitment to training governmental employees in CPR, hosting community CPR events, the proliferation of automated external defibrillators for public access in the community, and providing life saving public services at the highest level," AHA Senior Director of EMS Mike Willingham said in a prepared statement.

Public Safety Communications Manager Rosemary Taylor said that last year a life was saved by a defibrillator owned by Newtown Park Athletic Association. Later this year, interested citizens also may learn how to use it through a community-wide defibrillator-CPR training program through the Johns Creek Fire Department, the American Heart Association and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

Emory Johns Creek Hospital donated $10,000 to the program. Georgia Power Corp., Rural Metro EMS, Ciba Vision and Olde Taylor Farms also helped raise $34,800 to outfit every police patrol car. The American Heart Association contributed $11,400 to provide six defibrillators to other city facilities.

An awards ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.