Author: Deputy County Executive Lisa Chimera
February is American Heart Month and here in Erie County we are committed to improving survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest through public education, emergency preparedness, coordinated response and continuous improvement.
In 2024, Erie County government joined forces with a several partners, including the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and the Buffalo Bills, to work towards the goal of achieving a HEARTSafe Community designation through the Citizen CPR Foundation.
This national recognition highlights efforts to improve heart health and emergency response by promoting CPR training, increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and fostering public awareness. In May 2025, we were proud to announce that Erie County had successfully earned this designation.
But the work continues. I encourage everyone who has not already done so to participate in a hands-only CPR training. This can be done in person, or even by watching a short video clip. Visit www3.erie.gov/health/heartsafe-video to watch the video in English or in Spanish. And, after watching, be sure to provide your ZIP code to be included in our total count of Erie County residents who have been trained in hands-only CPR.
In-person trainings are available through the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) and our community partners. To learn more or to register for an upcoming training visit: www.erie.gov/heartsafe.
Additionally, our Buffalo and Erie County Public Library offer CPR Training Kits that can be borrowed from the “Library of Things.” This allows anyone to practice lifesaving skills in the comfort of your own home.
The Central Branch Library, located at 1 Lafayette Square in Buffalo, also offers AEDs that patrons can check out for up to seven days. Visit the Central Library Circulation Desk or call (716) 858-8900 for more information.
Erie County is currently working to bring lifesaving readiness to local workplaces through the HEARTSafe Workplace designation. Local employers can earn this designation from ECDOH by promoting CPR and AED training for staff, having an on-site AED that is strategically placed for public access, and by creating and implementing a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP).
Interested workplaces should reach out to wellness@erie.gov or call (716) 858-7277 to learn about the criteria and start the process.
Also new for this year, all schools in New York State will be required to have a CERP in place, in compliance with Desha’s Law. This new law championed by New York State Senator April Baskin, complements existing learning requirements that ensure all high-school seniors are trained in CPR and how to use an AED.
I thank everyone who has helped in our efforts to make Erie County a HEARTSafe community and thank our local lawmakers for working to enact strategic policies that impact survival rates for those impacted by a cardiac event. I wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe 2026!