Emergency medical response charity CRITICAL has established a new Community First Responder (CFR) group in Ennis, County Clare.
A dedicated team of nine volunteers are now responding to life-threatening emergencies in the town and its surrounding areas.
The Ennis CFR group is made up of individuals from medical and non-medical backgrounds. They began specialised training in January to give them the skills to respond to high-priority emergency situations.
The volunteers are tasked by the National Ambulance Service to Category One emergency calls including cardiac arrests, choking incidents and cases involving unconscious patients within a 10km radius of Ennis town.
David Tighe, Chief Executive of CRITICAL said, “Community First Responder groups operate as a vital early response, supporting the National Ambulance Service, and improving outcomes for patients experiencing life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest. The volunteers in Ennis join our growing network of CFR groups across the country. These extraordinary everyday heroes are very often first at the scene, providing crucial care in the first minutes of a medical emergency when every second counts.”
Helen O’Neill is one of the volunteers, she said: “Our aim is to support the National Ambulance Service by delivering immediate life-saving assistance until advanced medical care arrives. We’re proud to serve our local community in this way.”
CRITICAL charity relies on fundraising to deliver its services. It costs up to €15,000 to set up a new CFR group.
The charity’s network of volunteers includes Emergency Doctors; Community First Responder Groups; and off-duty paramedics, EMTs, Advanced Paramedics.
For more information or to make a donation visit www.criticalcharity.ie