CPR Kits Now Added to Library of Things

We are excited to announce that our Library of Things is expanding to include CPR Kits. These kits, kindly donated by the Baltimore Ravens, provide customers with a chance to practice and re-enforce lifesaving CPR skills. Each kit has one mannequin and an instructional DVD, and a link to a video that demonstrates how to blow up the mannequin is included on the tag. “You can borrow these items for free at the public library, which allows all of our residents to save money, reduces environmental impact and provides access, which is what we do here in Baltimore County,” said CEO Sonia Alcántara-Antoine. To place one or more kits on hold, head to our Library of Things tab and scroll down to CPR Kits. Then, select which branch you’d like to pick the hold up from.

The Baltimore County Fire Department says the sooner CPR is started on someone experiencing cardiac arrest, the better. “Each year in the United States, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital,” said Fire Chief Joanne Rund. “Unfortunately, about nine out of 10 people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest do not survive, often because they did not receive CPR from a bystander.” Rund encourages every family to have at least one person who knows how to perform this lifesaving technique. 

For the Baltimore Ravens, the mission is personal. On January 2, 2023, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football as the world watched. Fortunately, the training staff was able to immediately begin CPR, which is credited with saving his life. “Any one of our players could have an incident like Damar and any one of our fellow community members can suffer a cardiac or incident as well,” said Heather Darney on behalf of the Baltimore Ravens. “The more that we as a community are prepared to help those in need in these unexpected emergencies, the more lives will certainly be saved.” 

Library of Things

The Library of Things is a collection of non-book objects. While the library has been loaning out similar items since the 80s (who remembers the engravers you’d use to put your name on a bike in case it was lost or stolen?), this full collection started about six years ago. You can find a range of items from inflatable movie screens for that backyard party, telescopes and fishing poles, to science kits, board games and now life-changing items like our CPR kits.