Cardiac group hopes to map county defibrillators
By Mary Dennehy
A COMMUNITY-based initiative that aims to saves lives is currently being rolled out in Tallaght, with local organisations encouraged to support the voluntary programme – which is hoping to map all of the defibrillators across Dublin 24 into a register.
In 2004, a rural community in Wicklow set up Cardiac First Responders (CFR) to assist local people who may have suffered a cardiac arrest – and were waiting up to 25-minutes for an ambulance to reach them.
Now, there are more than 130 CFRs nationally, which, recognised by the National Ambulance Service (NAS), involves each volunteer group provided with a phone that receives an automated text message when a 999 call is made from within their catchment area.
The automated text is sent as the 999 call is logged in the control centre and focuses on four health conditions, stroke, choking, cardiac arrest and chest pain.
Andy O’Toole, a member of CFR Ireland and an advanced paramedic with NAS, told The Echo: “The ambulance service is under so much stress and in some cases it’s quicker for a trained CFR volunteer to get to the scene with an AED [Automated External Defibrillator] before the ambulance.
“The whole point of CFR is to bring the availability of life-saving care to people as soon as possible and we hope that the community of Tallaght will get behind us in trying to deliver the volunteer-led service here.”
A group of volunteers have established themselves in Kilnamanagh but are still in the early set-up stages and are looking for volunteers, all of whom will be trained.
While first responders have access to a defibrillators, CFR Ireland is hoping to map all of the defibrillators, owned publically and privately, across Tallaght.
A register will be compiled for the national ambulance control room, which can inform 999 callers of their closest defibrillator while they await an ambulance.
Andy said: “We hope that people get in touch about the location of defibrillators and we can assist them with advice and where to go for training if needed.
“The scary thing is, a high percentage of the defibrillators we test in local centres are either dead or the pads are out of date and not conducting energy.
“We can support community centres, clubs and schools in making sure that their defibrillator is working and give them guidance on how to use it and maintain it.
“We would encourage everybody with a defibrillator, whether in a public facility, sports club or a private premises, to contact us.”
Each of the groups are funded at source, with volunteers fundraising and canvassing residents and their local business community for sponsorship.
Anybody who is interested in becoming a trained volunteer or to register a defibrillator email info@cfr.ie or visit CFR Ireland Facebook page.
