CFR map aims to make sure defibrillators are working

A MAP cataloguing the defibrillators in Tallaght, Clondalkin and Rathfarnham was recently launched by a community group – and they’re seeking the community’s assistance with updating it.

The Tallaght Community First Responders’ (CFR) map went live last week and it aims to make people aware of functional defibrillators in the community, and to highlight the need to repair non-functional ones.

It also provides a form for members of the public to fill in to log the presence of defibrillators in the community, and to either check themselves or get the Tallaght CFR to check if it is still working.

A spokesperson for Tallaght CFR told The Echo: “Our aim is to build an in-depth map where if you see a defib, you can take a picture of it and check if it’s working, or we can go and check.

“It’s very simple to do – make sure there’s a green flashing light, if it’s orange or it’s red then there’s something wrong.

“It could be that the pads are out of date, or the battery is going low. Currently, the lifespan of a defib is between five and ten years, and the battery goes dead if it’s not used in that time.”

This is particularly problematic as it means that when someone needs a defibrillator, they might come to realise that it no longer works at a point when it’s crucially needed.

The spokesperson for Tallaght CFR recounted how they were recently in a local pub and casually checked the defibrillator only to realise it wasn’t functional, to the surprise of staff.

Similarly, the aim of the map is to ensure public defibrillators are functional and ready-to-go and to repair ones that are no longer functional, so no one is caught out when they need the life-saving device.

“In Ireland, there are thousands of defibrillators we know are out there, and they might be present, but they might not be functional,” added the spokesperson.

“What we don’t want to happen is for an AED to be in a building and someone goes to use it but it’s not serviceable.

“If it’s not able to be used for a cardiac arrest, it’s as good as a cardboard box.”

The only defibrillators that will be added to the map will be functional ones, while ones that are found to be needing service will be followed up on by the group.

“The only AEDs that will be added are ones that we’re happy with,” added the spokesperson.

“If an AED is logged and it’s not serviceable, we’ll try to track down the owner and we’ll identify the problem and get it sorted.”

To log a defibrillator on the map, visit tallaghtcfr and click on ‘AED Registration’ on the top right of the page.