Local group is a lifesaver

A GROUP that provides cardiac care and other emergency medical assistance to people in Raheny and surrounding areas, while they are waiting on an ambulance, has proved to be a major success in its first year. 

Raheny Community First Responders is now helping other Northside areas tackle the relatively low cardiac arrest survival rate in Ireland. Its members have helped to get groups in Skerries, Swords, Blanchardstown and Ashbourne off the ground in order to give rapid care in times of medical emergencies.

A year after being formed, Dublin’s second ever First Responders’ unit took inspiration from their Finglas colleagues and locals in Raheny and surrounding areas are now benefitting.

Joe Mooney, chairperson/coordinator of Raheny Community First Responders, strongly believed that the service provided in Finglas could be essential to his heavily populated area.

“I noticed there was only one set up in Dublin,” he said. “I thought with the elderly community that we have, the large population that we cover, that a first responders’ unit would be beneficial to the community.”

One statistic that caught his eye was the single digit survival rate from cardiac arrests in this country which is startling compared to other countries.

“We have a good survival rate, but it’s not great,” he said. “Our survival rate at the moment is around 7 per cent whereas some places in England, it is 19 or 20 per cent and some places in America it is 50 per cent so we can get much better if we get people doing CPR at home.”

In response to this, the group is currently fundraising to gather enough money to fund defibrillators that will be located at every bank in their area; they already have two at the local branches of Bank of Ireland and AIB.

Other schemes include monthly classes which teach mothers and fathers of newborn babies first aid along with visiting the homes of families willing to learn some of the skills the first responders specialise in.

Since the unit has gone live, Raheny CFR have saved one out of their three cardiac arrest patients as well as calling out to numerous people with chest pain complaints and stroke assessments. Although the group started small, it now has 20 active members trained in a wide range of detection and prevention techniques in cases of choking, heart-attacks, stroke and cardiac arrests. 

While St Anne’s Park is a fabulous amenity, the vast numbers using the facilities can put pressure on the First Responders’ resources. 

“With all the football and GAA matches, you may have close to five, six or seven hundred people in that park at any time, including the supporters and managers, so it is a massive achievement to get into the park and look after someone if anything does happen,” said Mr Mooney. 

The group covers the weekly park run on a Saturday with at least one responder on call to help participants and spectators if needed. 

In any emergency within a two-kilometre area, these responders are contacted by HSE paramedics who are answering the call, who then in turn keep a control room in Tallaght updated on the situation. 

If you are interested in joining the group or making a donation, visit their Facebook page on Raheny Community First Responders or email Rahenycfr@gmail.com for more information.

Brein McGinn