'It could save someone's life': donate your Re-turn bottles for defibrillators in Portlaoise

The new Portlaoise Community First Responders Group (PCFR) have launched an initiative to raise funds for the purchasing of AED kits.

An AED is an automated external defibrillator, and costs around €1,200 to buy. This equipment could mean the difference between life or death for many patients.

The group have asked Portlaoise to donate their Re-turn bottles to the volunteers, who can use this money to pay for expensive equipment.

The group must source the funding for their kits and medical equipment themselves, which in total is around €8,000-€10,000.

The group cannot operate without this lifesaving equipment, and have asked the public to help where they can.

So far, Allbooks in Portlaoise have been the first business to jump on board.

"We are struggling a bit because it’s only early days,” said Claire Dunne, PCFR Fundraiser Co-ordinator.

"I was bringing my own re-turn bottles back myself and had the brainwave that it would be a good way to raise money for our AEDs. I asked the group what they thought and they all agreed. 

"We put out a public appeal for local businesses, schools and workplaces to donate their bottles to us. Allbooks were the first company to reach out and donate their bottles,” she said.

“We’re so grateful to them, every little helps. We have reached out to Re-turn who said that they can provide us with proper bins in the coming weeks, which would be brilliant. 

"We plan to go live in November, so we desperately need funds to buy the equipment we need,” she said.

Those who wish to donate their Re-turn bottles to PCFR can do so by contacting their social media pages, or emailing portlaoisecfrfundraising@gmail.com. A group member will collect the bottles from you. 

Pictured: PCFR undergoing their extensive training in first aid.

The first responders group will work within a 5km radius of Portlaoise, in the hopes of getting to a patient quicker than an ambulance may take. The group was founded following a radio show on Joe Duffy that made locals realise what a necessity the group was to Portlaoise.

There are currently 11 volunteers in the group, who have all been trained, vetted and certified to the high levels required by the National Ambulance Service.

“People think that we’re okay in Portlaoise because we have a hospital with ambulances so close,” Ms Dunne said.

“I have a heart condition myself, it’s why I got involved. Recently my family had to ring an ambulance for me and one had to be sent from Limerick.

"I was waiting an hour on the ambulance, and it was another hour in the ambulance to be transported to Dublin. Community first responders are so important, because time is of the essence. We can get there sooner than an ambulance, and we would be the first port of call for the ambulance service. 

"We are actively seeking volunteers to join the group,” she said. 

“This is a voluntary role, it’s a big commitment and it’s your own time you’re putting into this. But it could potentially save someone’s life.

"Everyone has a person they know need emergency medical attention, they may have needed it themselves. Our volunteers all joined with the best intentions and a genuine passion there to help," Ms Dunne said.

The group will be holding a public event in conjunction with the Irish Heart Foundation, called the 'Restart the Heart Campaign'. This will be held on October 17 at 6:30pm in the parish centre at St. Peter’s & Paul’s church.

"Anyone interested in seeing what the group can do, or who wants to see what the equipment or demonstrations look like, are free to come along and see," Ms Dunne said.

“If we operate by sending out volunteers in teams of two, we would hope to have one per pair. The real cost would be for the pads on the AEDs, they cost €160 each and have to be thrown out after each use. Even if the sticky covering peeled off it, we would need to dispose of them,” she explained.

Once we’re up and running, we only need to focus on replenishing the pads. When we’re on our feet we plan on focusing on installing AED’s around Portlaoise,” she said.

You can find out more about Portlaoise Community First Responders here.