Clon First Responders Launch

MARY HARNEY LAUNCHES CLON FIRST RESPONDERS GROUP

Minister for Health, Mary Harney, T.D. was joined by representatives of the HSE and several other first responders groups, as well as local politicians and supporters at the Quality Hotel last Friday when she official launched the Clonakilty Community First Responders Group. 12 local fully-trained voluntary first responders were presented with their certificates by the Minister, in what was a proud day for Clonakilty and the hard working committee who have been organising, meeting and training, ably led by Pat Evans for the last year and a half. A further 10 more volunteers are ready to commence training in September, and the group hopes that by year end, there will be 30 qualified and “on duty”. Three community Defibrillator Machines have been placed at The Imperial Hotel, O’ Donovan’s Hotel and Maxol Filling Station over the last week to coincide with the launch. Now in Clonakilty, the HSE-trained First Responders will be able to attend at Cardiac, Choking, Collapsing and other related emergencies in the town with Defibrillators and Oxygen. If someone feel they or someone in their company are getting chest pains, have gone unconscious, collapsed or are choking or having breathing difficulties, they should ring 999 or 112 as for all emergencies. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, a First Responder, if available, will be directed to the patient by the Ambulance service, who will deliver immediate care which may prevent deterioration of the victim. They will also carry and administer oxygen to the patient while they await the arrival of the Doctor and Ambulance. As soon as they arrive at the scene the First Responder stands back. All the First Responders are fully trained by HSE experts, having undergone intensive theory and practical courses over the last year. They have made a commitment to serve the local community in their own time, totally voluntary and unpaid, and will work in pairs. A rota has been set up whereby at two are on call at any time right around the clock, seven days a week. At last weeks launch, people saw a simulated situation where the First Responders and the Ambulance Crew went into operation when a man got a “heart attack while watching television at home”. The audience, in the presence of Minister Harney, watched intensely as the system kicked in. The first 15 minutes can be critical for a patient with such a condition, and in Clonakilty, a First Responder can be on the scene within 3 - 4 minutes. (The First Responders operate in a 6 kilometre radius of the town centre). Often unfortunately, the ambulance might be up to 45 minutes away, so the care that the First Responder service administers can mean the difference between life and death. Indeed, a number of people from other parts of Ireland spoke about how First Responders saved their lives, when they had cardiac arrests. Mari Hanly, another member of the Clonakilty Committee that has ensured Clonakilty has a First Responder Group, emphasised that the become involved, doesn’t mean that you have to have any previous medical training whatsoever. Over the course of approximately 20 hours, over a few days, volunteers are trained by highly professional HSE tutors. By the end of the training, they are competent in CPR, using a Defibrillator and administering Oxygen and Aspirin to an at risk patient. For every minute a victim of cardiac arrest does not receive CPR or a shock from a defibrillator, their chances of survival drops 10% for each minute that goes by, so, every moment is crucial. While people with first aid courses, etc. are welcome to be involved, it’s not necessary, she emphasised. The group stresses that at present there are three defibrillators located in Clonakilty town, which is what he group can afford at present. If funds allow in the future, more will be purchased and placed at other strategic locations around the town, and would be delighted if local fundraising groups considered them for donations. At the launch, the patrons of Bernie’s Bar and the Lions Club were acknowledged for their generosity to the group to date. (Indeed, the whole idea of setting up a Community First Responders group, stemmed from the tragic and untimely death of the late Tim O’ Brien a few years ago. Tim was a popular bowler and patron of Bernie’s Bar and died suddenly from cardiac arrest. His friends were instrumental in the setting up of the group). They also encourage other people in the community to consider joining and training as First Responders, as they say that the more people trained up, the lesser the commitment will be on each in terms of being “on call”. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Mari Hanly on 087-7746404 or email clonfr@gmail.com.