This Free Buffalo-Area Service Could Save Your Life

Any Bills fan can tell you exactly where they were the moment Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during Monday Night Football after a freak accident sent him into cardiac arrest. 

His recovery journey has been one of the most inspiring sports stories of all time, and it’s been amazing watching him back on the field this preseason. But nevertheless, it was a terrifying moment for anyone watching that we’ll never forget.

Not long after Hamlin’s harrowing incident, we learned about the health of owner Kim Pegula, and how CPR helped save her life as well.

Both events made many of us realize that now, more than ever, it is so important to learn how to perform CPR in case of an emergency.

You may have looked into taking an in-person class or a course online, but finding the time can be tricky with busy schedules. And now that fall is right around the corner, our schedules are about to get even more hectic.

Now, time doesn’t have to be an excuse to not learn CPR. Did you know that a new public initiative makes learning CPR accessible to absolutely everyone, no matter what your schedule looks like - and it’s totally free?

You Can Learn CPR On Your Own Time For Free In Erie County

Library lovers know there is so much more to borrow there than just books. Movies, music, and even works of art can temporarily come home with you from your local library, and a lot can even be downloaded right to your electronic device. 

Here in the Buffalo area, you can borrow something from your local library that could potentially save a life - a CPR Training Kit.

Dozens of  Buffalo and Erie County public library locations now offer the kits that residents can borrow for an entire week free, so you can learn CPR in as little as 20 minutes in the privacy of your own home without having to pay a dime. 

Each package contains an inflatable “Annie” doll, a bilingual DVD featuring practice-while-watching video segments, brochures, and cards to help you learn proper techniques. (You can check out everything included in the kit here.)

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The kit not only shows you how to perform CPR, but also how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator) and other lifesaving techniques, like what to do if someone is choking. 

If a busy summer schedule prevented you from taking the time to learn CPR, this is a great way to make sure you and your family have the confidence and know-how to jump into action - potentially saving a life.

You can see which Erie County library locations carry the kits and request to borrow one here.