First Responder training session gets everyone’s heart pumping

An inaugural training day for local first responder groups was a massive success recently.

Organised by members of the National Ambulance Service and Gorey Red Cross under the umbrella of Community First Responder Group the event saw North Wexford first responder groups put through their paces.

John Kavanagh of Gorey Red Cross said they were delighted with the success of the day.

‘It went really well for us. The aim of the day was to improve CPR quality and high quality CPR. We had 60 people taking part on the day which we were delighted with.

‘There were people there from first responder groups in Ferns, Monageer, Ballycanew, Craanford/Monaseed, Carnew, Tinahely, Gorey, Courtown/ Riverchapel, Arklow and there were even a few people who travelled down from Naas when they heard about the event.’

John said the event which was held in Bunscoil Loreto was such as success that there are now plans to make it an annual event.

In the morning the participants were given a demonstration and talk by Catriona Kinch on critical incident stress situations while the afternoon was a mixed bag of theory and practical based on a number of different topics from a variety of instructors.

John said that all those who attended the training day were very pleased with the event.

‘Everyone was very happy with the course content and everyone felt they had learnt some new skills as well as honing up their existing ones.’

Craanford Monaseed First Responders, Una Doran, Noeleen Kenny, Suzanne Paisley, Dermot Kenny, Don McGuinness, Martina Hogan and Elaine Byrne.

Monageer Community First Responders, front row: Marie Lynch, Kay O’Leary, Nicky Kirwan and Brigid Sinnott. Back: Jean Mernagh, Sean Cashe, Denis Kinsella, Paul Fenlon and Dympna Dolan. Ferns First Responders, front row: Ken Hawthorne, Margaret Plummer,...

Tutors Michelle Kehoe, Stephen Bolger, Ray Lacey, Roisin Walsh, Stephen Morley, Catriona Kinch and John Kavanagh.