A new partnership has been signed between Dublin Airport Fire and Rescue Service (DAFRS), the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and Emergency Medical Charity CRITICAL.
The collaboration sees members of DAFRS, who are trained to Advanced Paramedic, Paramedic, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Emergency First Responder (EFR) levels, volunteering to respond to emergencies in their local communities spanning an extensive area across Leinster.
A team of 20 responders have signed up including eight Advanced Paramedics and 13 Paramedics. An additional five responders are expected to join in the coming months.
The volunteers have been equipped by CRITICAL with basic life support kit bags which include a defibrillator, other resuscitation and diagnostic equipment. They will be notified by the National Ambulance Service of life-threatening emergencies such as traffic collisions, serious injuries, cardiac arrests, and choking incidents.
Chief Fire Officer Jim Moore from DAFRS stated, “At the end of their shift, our team members go home to their communities and respond to emergency calls across Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny and Cavan. Through CRITICAL charity, they now have the opportunity to put their expertise to work in their communities when it matters most. This partnership is vital as it connects our team to the growing CRITICAL network of responders supporting the National Ambulance Service and other emergency services”
Co-ordinator and member of the scheme John-Paul Guiden added, “I would like to acknowledge the amazing support from DAA, NAS, CRITICAL and The State Claims Agency in helping to get this amazing project live. But, I would especially like to thank all the members for supporting the project and volunteering their spare time to the most vulnerable in their communities.”
David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL added, “The partnership with Dublin Airport Fire and Rescue Service is about empowering skilled pre-hospital professionals to save lives in their own communities. These volunteers are giving their time and expertise beyond their day jobs and with the support of the National Ambulance Service, they’re helping ensure that people in urgent need of care receive it faster. It’s a powerful example of what collaboration across services can achieve. We rely on fundraising to expand and grow our network and we are very grateful to everyone who has supported us so far.”
Liam Stewart, Community Engagement Officer from the National Ambulance Service said, “We were delighted to further our collaboration with these two partners to help improve care for people experiencing the most serious medical emergencies. When DAFRS approached us about responding when off-duty it was natural to introduce them to CRITICAL. The charity already supports 100 pre-hospital practitioners and 12 CFR schemes across the country and their investment in this project allows the DAA volunteers, who are skilled professionals, to respond with appropriate lifesaving equipment in their own communities across Leinster.”
CRITICAL has a network of more than 300 volunteer responders active across Ireland including doctors and consultants equipped with emergency response vehicles and high-tech equipment; community first responder (CFR) groups; as well off-duty paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). They responded to over 2,000 calls during 2025. They are notified by the National Ambulance Service and communicate closely with the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) while on scene.
