Lifesaving resource available at library thanks to Ravens and others

Lifesaving resource available at library thanks to Ravens and others
The Baltimore Ravens are teaming up with Baltimore County firefighters and the American Heart Association to provide lifesaving CPR kits.

"I wouldn't be here without it, and it's very humbling to be part of it. I'm so grateful to help spread the message," John Holschuh said.

Holschuh is living proof of the power of CPR. After playing basketball, he experienced a cardiac event. He told his friend that he didn't feel good and went down.

"He started CPR on me, kept me going for 15 minutes until the ambulance came," he said.

"When performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple someone's chance of survival. The American Heart Association wants every household in America to have at least one family member who knows how to perform CPR," American Heart Association official Tracy Brazelton said.

You can learn CPR at home by checking out one of the kits. The Ravens, American Heart Association and Baltimore County Fire Department teamed up and donated 30 kits to the Baltimore County Public Library System. All you need is a library card.

"Having someone who knows how and is confident to perform CPR can be the difference between life and death. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital setting and you are called on to do CPR, you will likely save the life of someone you know and care about," Brazelton said.

The kits have inflatable mannequins and come with a DVD that explains how to do CPR.