A few months after brothers Joel and Jarett Loehr bought Falcon Lanes they spent an extra $1,200 on a luxury item they never used — until Friday, when it may have saved a life.

Early Friday afternoon a woman, a senior bowler in a league, fell to the floor.

"I was in the office and we heard a crash," Joel said. " I rushed down. She was unconscious, eyes open and breathing."

But that breath amounted to only a few gasps. Loehr, who had first-aid training in a previous job, checked for a heart rate. When he couldn't find it, he grabbed the automated external defibrillator (AED) used by paramedics to shock the heart back to action.

The Loehrs purchased it a few months after buying the bowling alley five years ago, after realizing the age of many of their best customers.

"It was one of my fears: we wouldn't be able to do anything if something happened."

Joel said he applied the paddles. A 30-second analysis by the AED told him he needed to apply a shock.

"It was just like you see in the movies. The body jumped an inch, inch and a half. It analysed and said no (second) shock was needed and continue with CPR."

Paramedics arrived minutes later. Loehr said they told him the woman was stable, but he does not know her condition.

Besides confirming the decision to purchase an AED, Loehr said it also reminded him to keep up on first aid training.

"I probably need a refresher," said Loehr, who had intermediate-advanced training at one time. "There are some rusty spots. It will give me and all the staff a wake-up."