Calgary first aid training company sees uptick in calls following Damar Hamlin collapse

First Aid Training Calgary is seeing an unusually high interest in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training since the collapse of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.

Before being taken to hospital in critical condition, Hamlin was resuscitated on live television after he was tackled and went into cardiac arrest.

Ben Marasco, founder of First Aid Training Calgary says people seem to be inspired to learn CPR after learning about what happened to the NFLer.

“Whether it’s customers calling, whether it’s emails, or even just online people discussing, we had such a positive outcome from his cardiac arrest on the field, we all watched it live on TV on the NFL there,” Marasco said.

Marasco adds he hopes the increased awareness means more lives saved –- especially as EMS wait times in Alberta remain longer than normal.

“EMS providers are doing their absolute best, but waiting for EMS to arrive doesn’t give that person much hope for survival. We look for key links, early recognition, early CPR, early use of a defibrillator,” Marasco said.

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He says performing CPR is hard work, and when more people know the potentially life-saving technique it can alleviate the stress on those performing it, and increase the chances of saving a life.

CPR certification expires every three years in Alberta, but an alarming statistic shows many people are not taking the initiative to get certified.

“A survey done by the Canadian Red Cross a few years ago, showed 98 per cent of Canadians are willing to do first aid training and believe it’s important, but current data shows only 18 per cent of people have done a training course in the last three years. So there’s a disconnect in Canadians,” Marasco said.

On Wednesday, the Bills tweeted out Hamlin was discharged from the Buffalo General Medical Centre after Hamlin tweeted Tuesday he was beating the odds and is neurologically sound.

An amazing Damar Hamlin update. ❤️???? pic.twitter.com/GyP2uDQry0

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 11, 2023

“Thankfully, with basic CPR training, we all can be each other’s first responders,” Marasco said.

He adds First Aid Training Calgary is providing $10,000 worth of free training to Calgarians.