Baltimore Ravens Team Up With American Heart Association To Donate CPR Kits To Owings Mills Library

OWINGS MILLS - The Baltimore Ravens donated several American Heart Association CPR kits to the Owings Mills Library on Monday. The donation, part of the BCPL's "Library of Things" initiative, will allow residents to borrow the kits, educating themselves on properly performing CPR.

Each Adult & Child CPR Anytime® Kit is equipped to provide thorough training on CPR, AED awareness, and choking relief within approximately 20 minutes. Designed for user-friendly at-home or workplace learning, these kits also offer the advantage of being easily transportable, fostering shared understanding among family and community groups.

"By providing these essential kits free of charge to the residents, we aim not just to save lives but also to promote a sustainable and environmentally-conscious approach," BCPL CEO Sonia Alcántara-Antoine said.

According to the AHA, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital each in the United States annually. Unfortunately, about 9 out of 10 people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest do not survive, often because they did not receive CPR from a bystander. 

“The American Heart Association wants every household in America to have at least one family member who knows CPR Making these Hands-only CPR training kits available for free from the libraries will ensure everyone in the Baltimore County community has access to learning this life-saving skill and joining our Nation of Lifesavers,” said Tracy Brazelton, Executive Director of the American Heart Association, Baltimore & Greater Maryland division.

Ravens safety Geno Stone was present at the event to highlight the importance of being prepared for cardiac incidents. Stone's association with Damar Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills player who suffered a cardiac arrest during a game in January 2023, lends a personal touch to his advocacy.

"Any one of our players could face a situation like Damar's, and any community member could undergo a cardiac arrest," said Heather Darney, Vice President of Community Relations for the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore County resident and CPR survivor John Holschuh was also in attendance, recalling a near-fatal experience following a basketball game several years ago. Holschuh emphasized the critical role of CPR, crediting his survival to a friend who administered CPR for 15 long minutes until emergency medical services arrived on the scene.