Volunteers wanted for new Portlaoise Community First Responders in Laois

A new Portlaoise emergency response volunteer group is being formed, to try and save lives of people who die from cardiac arrest in the precious minutes before an ambulance can reach them.

Portlaoise is to join with over 250 other towns in having its own Community First Responders group, if volunteers come forward.

The volunteers will get training and governance by CFR Ireland, who support over 250 such groups around Ireland.

Chairperson John Fitzgerald told the Leinster Express / Laois Live how it all works.

"We are delighted that the Portlaoise community is setting up a Community First Responder scheme in conjunction with the many PADs (defibrillators) placed in the town. This will give the people of Portlaoise the best chance of survival of a cardiac arrest.

"In Ireland, each year an estimated 5,000 people collapse and die 'out of hospital' from cardiac arrest. That is 14 people every day.

"These people are going about their normal daily lives and collapse and die without warning. In this country, we often say that 'she died suddenly' or 'he dropped dead', this is sudden cardiac arrest.

"A 'heart attack' is different to cardiac. This is caused by a blockage in one or more of the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle. It could develop into a cardiac arrest if untreated.

"When a person collapses, if cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is started immediately and an automated external defibrillator (AED) is used within 3 minutes of the collapse, the patient has a 70% chance of survival," John explained. 

Community First Responders undergoing training.

This is where First Responders can step in.

"Out of Hospital Cardiac arrest survival is not an ambulance problem, it's a community problem. It's just not possible to have an ambulance outside every cardiac arrest, so we need to organise communities to act first in these emergencies.

"Community First Responder schemes across Ireland are dispatched by The National Ambulance Service to cardiac arrests in communities. CFRs also attend patients with chest pain or suspected heart attack, patients suffering strokes and choking. They attend adults, children and infants. The number of these schemes is growing nationally, monthly," he said.

Having a hospital in Portlaoise is not enough.

"Communities often feel that there is no need for a Community First Responder or PAD scheme in their community because there is an Ambulance base, or a hospital, or a doctor’s surgery nearby.The issue with cardiac arrest is that in order to have any chance of survival, emergency services need to be activated straight away, CPR needs to start within the first few minutes of the collapse and then a AED needs to be used as soon as possible, the chain of survival.

"Community First Responders come from all walks of life and volunteer to give up their time and organise themselves in their communities where they live or work to save lives. We fundraised for everything and received no central funding. They purchase their own emergency kit and training equipment.

"The biggest expense is the volunteers time, they need to train regularly to ensure that their skills are at the highest level when called upon," John said.

He said they will take as many Portlaoise volunteers as are willing to help.

"Community First Responds are not for everyone. Like the Ambulance and the Fire Service, they see people on the worst day of their lives. Also, performing CPR is quite a physical activity and can be tiring. But there are jobs for everyone in the community coordinator, administration, treasure, fundraising, PR/social media.

"The initial training for Community First Responders is about 4.5 hours long. It covers cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), how to use an automated external defibrillator, chest pain management (suspected heart attack), choking relief and stroke recognition. However, Community First Responders practise and practise for hours before going on emergency calls," he said.

Recent Portlaoise resident Amanda Wilkinson kickstarted the idea to bring CFR to Portlaoise.

"I heard about CFR through an interview with Ger O’Dea National Ambulance Service, Community Engagement Manager on RTE radio and thought it would be a great idea to have a group set up in Portlaoise. If someone is on the ground clutching their chest, seconds matter, they need someone there straight away. 

"They'll get training and ongoing support, and they could save someone's life," she said.

The cost of setting up a Portlaoise branch will run up to €4,000, which will give the group its own mobile AED, as well as covering training and all other ongoing costs.

"If any nice generous companies out there could help, it would be a great service to Portlaoise," Amanda said.

A meeting for potential volunteers will be held at Portlaoise Parish Centre, on Wednesday, March 6 from 7 to 8pm. 

Mr Fitzgerald will be there, as well as Amanda Ross, Community Engagement Officer, National Ambulance service who will give a presentation and explain how to set up the group. Kieran Bradley, Order of Malta Portlaoise will attend also.

"All are welcome, hopefully there will be a big response. Just come along and see what you thing and hear more about it," Amanda said.

Portarlington Community First Responders is also relaunching after a forced break by the pandemic. Contact them for information on 087-4170346.

CFR Ireland is a volunteer organisation supporting Community First Responder schemes. It formed in 2014, covering issues like governance, recruiting volunteers, fundraising, insurance, and Charity Regulatory Authority compliance. If anyone would also like to set up a grup in their own area, they can contact the National Ambulance Service on cfr@hse.ie