QUICK-THINKING DAUGHTER SAVES HER MOTHER’S LIFE IN FERNS
FERNS FIRST RESPONDERS CALMLY DEAL WITH BRIDIE’S HEART ATTACK
A volunteer in a Community First Response Scheme in Ferns never dreamed that she would be called out to help save her own mother’s life.
Bridie Ryan (69) of Coolbawn, Ferns was having a heart attack when her daughter Mary Gethings who was on duty at the time, calmly rushed to the rescue.
Mary is a member of a new ambulance support scheme established just a month ago and had the responder phone and a defibrillator and emergency medical bag in her car.
She received a distressed phone call from her father Tommy to say that her mother Bridie had taken seriously ill without warning.
On arriving at the family home, she realised her mother was having a heart attack and she immediately administered 300mg of Aspirin after assessing that it was safe to do so.
Mary dialled 999 on a landline while using her mobile phone to summon fellow on-duty responder Enda Furlong who relayed details of the emergency to the National Ambulance service. Co-incidentally Mary then received a text alert to attend to the incident at her mother’s.
Mary and Enda managed to relax Bridie and make her comfortable while awaiting the arrival of the ambulance which took 25 minutes. The ambulance paramedics then took over.
Bridie spent 13 days in Wexford General Hospital where doctors infomred her she was very lucky to have been part of a chain of action that prevented her from suffering serious heart damage.
‘The early administering of Aspirin increased her chances of survival and minimised muscle damage to her heart by slowing down clotting and preventing blood clots,’ said Mary who is one of 18 trained CFR volunteers now operating in the Ferns, Camolin, Ballyduff, Clologue and surrounding areas.
The group supports the national ambulance service by providing emergency first response in the event of sudden cardiac arrest, chest pain, stroke and choking.
‘During our training we were told that one day one of us may be called out to an emergency situation involving a close relation,’ said Mary.
‘But never in a million years did I think that within just four weeks of going live I would get the call to attend to my own mother. I was able to stay calm because of the training.’
‘If I wasn’t a volunteer with the Ferns CFR I wouldn’t have had access to Aspirin for my mother. I dread to think what the outcome would have been without it.’
Bridie is now recovering at home and is ‘so happy to be alive’, said Mary.
Since the Ferns response scheme started on June 27, volunteers have received 11 text alerts from the National Ambulance Service to attend to incidents where people are suffering chest pains and stroke within the 5km radius that the group covers.
‘Because the Ferns CFR volunteers live in the area themselves, they are on hand to provide lifesaving care before the arrival of ambulance paramedics,’ said Mary.
‘It’s not just about the patient. It’s also an emergency situation for the patient’s family. The first responders can offer them reassurance and support until the ambulance arrives.’
It is estimated that 5,000 people die each year in Ireland from a sudden cardiac arrest. Of those who died in 2013, 66% of the incidents happened at home. Early emergency assistance increases a person’s chances of survival after cardiac arrest.