Calls for new members as first-responders host open day

IT’S been a busy 12 months for Waterville Community First Responders (CFR), and with that in mind, it seemed as important as ever to get their messages across.

The group held an open day last Saturday in the Sea Lodge Hotel to get out once more the importance of CPR in saving lives; the chain of survival, which is a series of actions that can reduce the chance of mortality with cardiac arrest; knowing the locations of defibrillators in your locality; and knowing your Eircode in the event of needing an ambulance.

Co-ordinator John Galvin explained to The Kerryman that his group is alerted and responds to incidents of stroke, chest pain, heart attacks, choking, and cardiac arrest, and it aims to keep the chain of survival intact and manage situations until an ambulance crew arrives.

Most of its call-outs are for strokes and heart attacks, and the group will often help not only the patient but also assure family members that may be present.

Waterville Community First Responders has been running for 11 years, in which time numbers have fallen from 50 members to 25.

With this in mind, Saturday’s open day was also a good time to encourage new members to get on board.

“Emigration has had an effect and older group members have done their time, so we are always looking for new recruits to keep this show on the road,” John said. “We’re also hoping people complete the three-hour Irish Heart Foundation ‘Heartsaver CPR and AED’ course, and at least they’ll then know how to deal with a life or death situation.

“Topics of discussion covered were stroke, heart attacks and chest pains and how to treat them; and telling the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest. We also showed people the recovery position.”

It was also a time for gratitude, with special mention for a CLÁR grant of almost €6,000 and the role the IRD and Councillor Norma Moriarty had in securing this grant for new and improved equipment.

There was also thanks for the members; the community for its support; and Frank O’Leary and Aine Boland for helping set up CFRs in south Kerry. Diarmuid O’Connell was present to speak about how CPR saved his life after collapsing during a GAA match; Joe Murphy spoke of how helpful it was to have a CFR group present when his mother had a stroke; while Frank himself had a poignant message on the importance of CFRs.

“Frank spoke about how he lost his son through a sudden cardiac arrest and what a devastation this was for his family and community,” John said. “He echoed the message that the more CPR training there is, the greater the out-of-hospital survival rate is – and with our rural location, this is very important.”

Anyone who would like to become a member is urged to contact John at (087) 740 3732.

Photos by Christy Riordan Pictured at the defibrillator box in Waterville were(from left) John Andrew Casey, John Galvin, Pat Everett and Donie McGillicuddy.

Pictured at the public defibrillator at Daly’s Petrol Station were (from left) Mary Berrington, John Galvin, James Sugrue and Geraldine Daly.