Restart a Heart Day part of ongoing efforts to make Erie County a HEARTSafe community by 2025

About 86,000 residents now know the basics of hands-only CPR

Submitted by the Erie County Department of Health

Oct. 16 marks the annual World Restart a Heart Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and encouraging the public to learn hands-only CPR. This lifesaving skill can significantly increase the chances of survival for a person whose heart has stopped.

This observance is happening about six weeks after Erie County announced its plan to be designated a HEARTSafe community by 2025. Aggressive and widespread education around how and when to perform hands-only CPR is one part of that designation.

SCA is a life-threatening emergency that affects approximately 1,000 people nationwide every day, regardless of age. Only about 10% of people with SCA survive. Erie County is making the commitment to get more of its residents trained in hands-only CPR with a goal of reducing the time between SCA and a medical response, and improving health outcomes.

“The hands-on, hands-only CPR training reinforces that bystanders have to act fast, because that can mean the difference between a positive outcome and a tragic one,” Deputy Erie County Executive Lisa Chimera said. In these critical moments, every second counts – you are the help until help arrives.

Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein said, “Erie County residents can take action now to learn hands-only CPR. Studies show that hands-only CPR can double or even triple a victim's chance of survival if performed immediately. We can ensure that people who experience sudden cardiac arrest have the best chance of survival, with an immediate response to keep their blood pumping."

Erie County is continuing to work toward its goal of being a HEARTSafe community by educating 15% of residents in hands-only CPR – or 145,000 people. Through Oct. 15, Erie County and partners have educated about 86,000 individuals in hands-only CPR.

In partnership with the American Heart Association, the Buffalo Bills, the University at Buffalo and UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Erie County is continuing its efforts to train community members on hands-only CPR. Also, all Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries have CPR training kits as part of the “library of things,” available to check out for free.

Chimera continued, “Live Well Erie and our other community partners are committed to making Erie County a safer place for residents and visitors. This initiative shows our dedication to making lifesaving skills accessible to everyone. By equipping our community with the knowledge and confidence to act in emergencies, we can significantly increase survival rates for cardiac arrest victims.”

For more:

• Erie County, HEARTSafe website: erie.gov/heartsafe
• Citizen CPR: https://citizencpr.org/heartsafe