PERINTON, N.Y. — Knowing how to perform CPR could save someone's life. It's certainly top-of-mind following the life-saving efforts on the field during Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest.

CPR training coordinator Jon LeRoy says CPR classes are filling up fast, so Perinton Ambulance added more including two on MLK Jr. Day of Service Jan. 16.

What You Need To Know

  • Damar Hamlin's collapse during the Bills game has prompted an increase in people wanting to learn CPR

  • Perinton Ambulance offers CPR/AED training twice a month and added two special classes on Jan. 16

  • CPR – or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating

  • The AHA says immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest

“If anything it brought attention to CPR and the importance of it,” LeRoy said. “The Monday night football with Damar Hamlin certainly was a catalyst for that. I personally have taken two dozen phone calls emails alone for people looking to sign up for the classes,” said LeRoy. “It’s two step CPR which is call 911 and push hard and in the center of the chest. If you take nothing else from our classes, those two things are the most critical.”

Good quality bystander CPR can triple chances of surviving cardiac arrest.

“This is why we’re trying to promote how important it is,” said chief paramedic Mike Hoskins from Perinton Ambulance. “It takes us time when we get notified when we get to the patient’s side. For every minute that goes by without CPR the chance of survival that goes down by 10%. We want to make sure that when that person suffers cardiac arrest, there’s somebody there immediately to begin chest compressions.”

Perinton Ambulance CPR/AED certified 850 people last year. People of all ages can learn this life saving skill. Perinton Ambulance has been sponsoring CPR training at Fairport High School for more than 10 years.

Perinton Ambulance has CPR classes every second Tuesday evening and fourth Saturday of every month. You can register for a class online at perintonambulance.org.  You can also find CPR classes at the American Heart Association and Red Cross. Some local fire departments also offer free CPR training.