Insurance levies put ‘lives on the line’

VOLUNTEERS eager to help save lives in their communities in Kerry are being hampered by insurance companies hitting them with massive levies on their car premiums - by up to 20 per cent in some cases.

The price of insuring first responders for their voluntary emergency work could ultimately cost lives, frontline responders fear.

The Kerryman understands that at least one new first responder group – a community in North Kerry – is trying to set up but is being hampered in its efforts due to this very issue.

Ballybunion-based emergency rescue expert Frank O’Connor described the issue as very se- rious, at a time when most or- dinary people are struggling to pay vastly-inflated premiums.

Many established emergency rescue personnel are now concerned about the attitude of insurance companies to their work as a result of the first responder insurance controversy.

First responder groups have sprung up right across Kerry in recent years, comprised of volunteers trained in saving lives in cardiac arrest situations to other circumstances - placed in their own communities to respond within the crucial first minutes of emergencies.

“As it is, insurance is gone through the roof and adding another 20% is insane. You must remember that in some areas, a responder may or may not even get a call or if they do it won’t be often, and if they do, they won’t be driving like lunatics,” Mr O’Connor told The Kerryman.

He does not feel the work would compromise road safety for the responder: “These are mature people and they all know the rules which are don’t break any traffic laws, drive at a normal safe speed, if you have taken a drink don’t respond at all. When you get the callout text, you can refuse to go. It’s entirely up to you. You’re not getting paid and if you don’t respond to the text, someone else will respond plus the ambulance is on the way anyway because the ambulance gets the call the same time as the responder.”

But the insurance moves are leading to intense disquiet among many long-term emergency workers who, from time to time, might be forced to use their personal vehicles: “The wider picture is even more serious. Are volunteers who turn out in their own cars to coastguard, inshore rescue, mountain rescue calls also subject to this 20 per cent load? Take it even further... what about retained firefighters all over the country who have to drive to fire stations in their own cars as we all do in the voluntary rescue units. The bigger question is if anyone of us had an accident while responding to a life-threatening situation, will the insurance companies use this as a get out of jail card for them so they won’t have to pay out? Are we even insured?” Mr O’Connor asked. Meanwhile, he is also urging people to find out the new Eircode designation of their home if they don’t already know it. The new Eircodes give precise mapping details on each home - detail that could make all the difference in getting ambulances and emergency responders to a location: “If the caller gives the Eircode, I can locate the house on an app which goes to Google Maps and it directs me to the house. Knowing the Eircode will benefit everyone. The ambulance and first responder won’t be delayed,” Mr O’Connor urged.

Do you know the Eircode of your home? Image by Frank O’Connor he is using to promote greater Eircode awareness.