NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Thirteen percent fewer people died from cardiac arrest in Nashville this year than last year.

The Nashville Fire Department's Public Access to Defibrillation (PAD) program is cited for one of reasons for the positive numbers.

Firefighters, along with Mayor Karl Dean, were presented with the first-ever Heart Ready award.

Through the placement of automated external defibrillators and public encouragement to take CPR classes, Nashville has been able to successfully save the lives of several people who suffered sudden cardiac arrest.

Nashville's PAD program has more than doubled their success over the past year.