First Responders group expanding its life-saving work in Mayo

Castlebar Community First Responders group is bringing its life-saving work to more people.

The group has expanded its radius from 6km to 12km, and with six new responders going live in the next few weeks they need to buy AEDs and kit bags.

A Buy Me a Coffee fundraising campaign has been established, and the monies raised through this will help purchase life-saving equipment in the Castlebar area.

Some of the responders have trained up to First Aid Responder level and they will be dispatched to blood injuries, burns, fractures, strains and sprains, falls and unconscious/fainting - ineffective Breathing.

Since going live in March 2024, Castlebar Community First Responders have been dispatched to over 250 calls.

Community First Responders (CFR) are volunteers who are trained to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. Their aim is to reach a potential life-threatening emergency in the first vital minutes before the ambulance crew arrives.

Their role is to help stabilise the patient and provide the appropriate care, including CPR and defibrillation, until the more highly skilled ambulance crew arrives on scene to take over the treatment.

CFR groups who are linked to the National Ambulance Service-NAS National Emergency Operations Centre are alerted to an emergency in their area and as they are community based, can provide medical assistance within minutes of a 112/999 call being received.

In the case of an emergency, please call 112/999. If you are unable to call please text 112.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.