Erie County is officially a HEARTSafe Community. This designation highlights the county's commitment to improving outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest through public education, emergency preparedness, and coordinated response.
The Buffalo Bills, Erie County, American Heart Association, UBMD, Highmark and the American Red Cross attended a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Frank E Merriweather Jr. Library to announce the designation.
"On behalf of a grateful community, I thank every person who helped our county achieve the HEARTSafe designation, including everyone who learned CPR during the process. This designation reflects how we've created a safer community for our residents and guests, one that aligns directly with HEARTSafe community priorities," said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. "Our community partners, EMS providers, emergency preparedness staff and public health professionals have worked together to ensure that lifesaving skills like hands-only CPR and AED use are widely taught and accessible throughout the community. We are creating an environment where more people are ready to act, and more lives can be saved."
Erie County met 13 essential benchmarks, including a year-long effort to educate more than 15% of county residents — over 147,000 people — in hands-only CPR. Other criteria were related to increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), strengthening 911 dispatcher protocols, and building a system of rapid response supported by community partners, schools, local organizations and emergency medical services, according to the Eric County Department of Health. Additionally, over 200 additional AED's have been placed in the Western New York community since 2023.
"This effort was about meeting people where they are, breaking down those barriers, and making lifesaving training available to everyone. When the entire community is engaged and empowered, we can truly make a difference in survival outcomes," said Buffalo Bills medical director Leslie J. Bisson, MD.
For more than a year, the Buffalo Bills, Erie County, American Heart Association, UBMD, Highmark and the American Red Cross have worked collaboratively to achieve this designation. Through the leadership of the county, and the collaboration of our partners we have taken proactive steps to protect residents from sudden cardiac arrests. These have included:
- Hosting Community CPR trainings at community centers, schools, Bills game, and community events
- Making AED's more available within the Western New York community
- Recognizing CPR volunteers
- Honoring individuals who step in to save a bystander's life with CPR
The Buffalo Bills are using the upcoming CPR + AED Awareness Week (June 1 – 7) to provide more opportunities to get involved. A community CPR training will be held on June 7 at All High Stadium from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A new and exciting opportunity for AED access will also be provided at the Buffalo Central Library. AED's will soon be available to be checked out by members of the community to be used for youth sports, community gatherings and more. Request a kit.
