Charity responds to 37 medical emergencies

LOCAL charity Mayo ICRR supports a single volunteer doctor to respond to 999 calls where there is a critical illness or significant injury in conjunction with the National Ambulance Service.

The volunteer doctor has been busy these past three months, responding to 37 calls for assistance from the HSE National Ambulance Service. This included five road traffic accidents, six cardiac arrests and two sick children, as well as other critically ill and injured patients.

On average the volunteer doctor responds to three calls per week. In many cases, interventions were performed on-scene that otherwise would not have been done until after the patient arrived in hospital.

In one particularly busy weekend the doctor attended two cardiac arrests and a serious road traffic collision and also accompanied a patient to hospital on board the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 118 aircraft.

This work was done in his free time and without financial support from the HSE.

Locals may also have noticed a change of vehicle recently. Mayo ICRR now has the use of a Honda CR-V and the distinctive Toyota Hilux has returned to its home in west Cork.

Mayo ICRR relies on the support of the local community which it serves and urgently need both financial and practical support. The charity has a role to suit most people. If you would like to become involved, please see www.mayoicrr.ie/help.