Youghal First Responders Answer 23 Emergency Calls in First Month Back in Action
Youghal's volunteer first responders attended 23 emergencies in their first month back, including three callouts on day one.
A volunteer medical response team in Youghal has attended 23 emergencies during its first four weeks back in operation, including three callouts on its very first day serving the community.
The Youghal Community First Responder (CFR) group went live on Thursday, 4 September, responding immediately to two chest pain calls and one medical emergency. The swift activation demonstrated the urgent need for the service in East Cork and West Waterford.
Originally established in 2014, the group handled an average of 360 calls annually before being stood down during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its relaunch this year came through support from emergency medical charity CRITICAL and the National Ambulance Service.
Twenty volunteers now form the operational team, including four paramedics. The group covers Youghal and surrounding areas such as Killeagh in Cork, and Ardmore and Clashmore in Waterford. All members hold CFR Advanced level training.
David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL, said:
"The fact that Youghal CFR group responded to three emergencies as soon as it went live shows the need for this service which is a vital step in the chain of survival. The Youghal group is now part of CRITICAL's growing network of CFR groups and volunteer responders across the country, giving up their time to respond to life threatening incidents in their local community."
The National Ambulance Service tasks the volunteers to attend emergencies including chest pain, cardiac arrests, stroke and choking incidents. Response times can prove critical in such cases, particularly in areas where ambulance services face longer journey times.
Patrick McCarthy, Coordinator of Youghal CFR group and Community Engagement Officer with the National Ambulance Service, said:
"All of our volunteers are trained to CFR Advanced level and come from a range of medical and non-medical backgrounds. We're lucky to have emergency first responders, and NAS paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) among our team members. We also have college students and retail workers who completed intensive training to be able to help people in their area when it matters most. I would like to thank the people of Youghal and surrounding areas who have been hugely supportive of us over the years."
The diverse volunteer base reflects the community spirit driving the service. From healthcare professionals to retail workers, members have committed to intensive training to provide life-saving assistance when seconds matter.
CRITICAL relies on fundraising and public donations to expand its services. Establishing a new CFR group costs up to €15,000. The charity operates a nationwide network including doctors in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Donegal, Dublin and Wicklow, alongside Community First Responder Groups and off-duty paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.criticalcharity.ie. Sinead can be contacted on 087 7143129 for interview arrangements.
