The emergency medical response charity CRITICAL has established a new Community First Responder group to cover the Duhallow area of North Cork.
The Blackwater CFR group will cover an area which spans 147 sq miles in total and will include towns such as Millstreet, Banteer, Rathmore, Ballydesmond and Kiskeam. The newly launched group will respond to 999/112 calls including cardiac arrests, stroke, and breathing difficulties.
CRITICAL is Ireland’s leading Volunteer Emergency Medical Response charity and its mission is to save lives through a network of volunteer emergency medical responders. In total, the charity has six Community First Responder groups around the country with an additional three due to go live later this year.
HELPING SAVE LIVES
David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL, said the group is the latest addition to the charity’s network, which is expanding its presence around Ireland.
“CRITICAL volunteers are working in conjunction with the National Ambulance Service, providing a quick response to medical emergencies in their communities. We have seen the impact of our CFR groups in other areas and I am sure that this latest group will be a major benefit to the North Cork area.”
The group currently has 10 active and fully-trained responders with an additional 13 in training. These include people from the local fire service, factory workers, IT workers and the HSE.
Donie Lucey is a Fundraising Support Officer with CRITICAL who responds as a volunteer with Blackwater. He was one of those who helped set up the Blackwater CFR group.
“I have seen first-hand the benefits of having responders in an area, particularly one as expansive as this particular part of North Cork. Our volunteers can be at the scene in minutes providing vital treatment to a patient before the ambulance arrives. The training that our volunteers receive is fantastic and only recently one of our Blackwater CFR volunteers put his skills to use when one of his relatives began choking,” Mr Lucey said.
“The biggest reward for us is knowing that we’ve helped save the life of someone in our community, whether that be a friend, family or neighbour.”
FUNDING
Donie is also a member of the Millstreet Vintage Club which recently raised €12,500 in support of CRITICAL. The funds raised locally will help to ensure the group has access to lifesaving equipment when they respond to a 999 call in the area, such as defibrillators and training equipment. These funds will also ensure the group’s life support bags can be kept fully stocked with disposable medical products, like breathing assistance tools and defibrillator pads.
If anyone would like to join the Blackwater CFR group then they can contact info@criticalcharity.ie. For those wishing to donate to CRITICAL or to get involved with the charity, please visit https://criticalcharity.ie/ or call 021 4190 999.
