Each year in Ireland, 3,000 cardiac arrests take place outside of public settings.
Dublin Bay North Community First Responders are on hand to ensure that in the event of a cardiac arrest happening in the local area, their group of volunteers are on hand to assist.
The group was established to provide rapid, community-based assistance during life-threatening medical emergencies.
Aidan McGirr, Head of Dublin Bay North Community First Responders, explained “we are alerted to incidents by the National Ambulance Service and Dublin Fire Brigade; we typically attend cardiac emergencies (heart attack and cardiac arrest) as well as suspected stroke calls in our area.”
To date, the group has 27 trained volunteer responders covering a large part of north Dublin, including Drumcondra, Beaumount, Artane, Clontarf, Killester, and Raheny.
Over 120 calls are attended to each year, with a significant number of calls attended in less than 10 minutes.
In a cardiac arrest situation, every minute counts, which is reflected in the figures.
Of the 3,000 cardiac arrests that take place outside a hospital setting, the survival rate is around 8%; a significant number of those who survive had an intervention prior to the arrival of emergency services.
This may be given by a bystander, family member or a community responder living close by.
McGirr said that “early intervention is essential, and this is where CFRs can make a difference.
He added that in addition to emergency callouts, the group actively works to strengthen local community resilience through training and education.
Some of the group’s ongoing activities include delivering CPR and defibrillator (AED) training to local community groups, sports clubs, and residents, hosting information sessions on topics such as cardiac arrest recognition, chest pain, and the importance of early intervention and organising specialist talks.
A recent talk on stroke recognition and treatment was delivered by a team of doctors from the Mater Hospital, with support from Clontarf Hospital.
“We believe strongly in empowering our community with the skills and confidence to act before an ambulance arrives,” McGirr said.
The group operates under the National Ambulance Service’s Community First Responder framework and collaborates with Dublin Fire Brigade on patient-focused care.
Defibrillators are a major part of the group’s work, but McGirr said funding is required to buy, install and maintain the devices.
More recently, a first aid station was established at the Red Stables in St. Annes, with McGirr saying he was “very grateful” for Canada Life Reinsurance providing funding for the group.
McGirr said, “we are always looking for opportunities to raise additional funds to pay for defibrillators and would be delighted for any donations or funding from local businesses or community events.”
While acknowledging the economic realities of the group, McGirr said that the group being one of the few who deliver such a service is worth celebrating.
“Recently, one of our volunteers was honoured at an awards ceremony hosted by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) Northeast for his outstanding actions in the community,” he noted.
“Jacques Kinane stepped up when it mattered most, providing life-saving intervention when a patient suffering chest pain went into cardiac arrest. Jacques’ quick thinking, skill and courage made a real difference at a critical time.”
The group are always on the lookout for new volunteers; the group can be reached at dublinbaynorthcfr@gmail.com.