CROWN POINT | Debra Huber's husband calls it her "mission," and latching onto the term, Huber calls it "mission possible."

The school nurse at St. Mary's Catholic Community School realized the benefits of having as many people as possible certified in CPR, the Heimlich maneuver and how to use a defibrillator, and three years ago asked that the entire faculty and staff of the school be trained. Wednesday, faculty and staff members received their re-certification from members of Crown Point Fire Rescue.

"I thought everyone should know," said Huber, the school nurse for the past 10 years. "I work with highly educated people who are so willing to learn and want to help out."

While the school's students took the afternoon off with a half day, 43 members of the school's faculty and staff as well as members of the church's office staff crowded into the school's library with eight firefighters and a dozen manikins whose noses would be pinched and chests compressed.

"I'm very happy. This is something we have as a positive," said school librarian Susan Berimhall.

Crown Point Fire Rescue Chief Greg DeLor said he didn't know of another entity that asks its entire staff to be trained in the procedures.

"It makes the public much safer," said DeLor, who also trained the school's seventh- and eighth-graders in CPR. "By learning CPR they can help anyone they know."

Earlier this year, the department began offering CPR certification classes on the first Wednesday of every month. So far, the department has certified about 350 residents, estimated Mark Baumgardner Sr., the department's division chief of operations.

While Huber said there wasn't an event that prompted her mission, she said she wanted to be proactive.

"If they're ever in an emergency situation, now they have the tools to know what to do instead of panicking," Huber said.