The Emergency Medical Response Charity CRITICAL has established a new
Community First Responder group in Deansgrange, Dublin, covering an area including
Cabinteely, Deansgrange, Foxrock, Blackrock, Monkstown and Dún Laoghaire.
CRITICAL is Ireland’s leading Volunteer Emergency Medical Response charity and its
mission is to save lives through a network of volunteer emergency medical responders.
The doctor and community first responders work closely with the National Ambulance
Service and are tasked to care for the sickest and most seriously injured patients.
On the launch of the new group, David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL, said: “We are
expanding our presence around Ireland and I’m delighted with the latest addition to the
network, Deansgrange. CRITICAL volunteers are working in conjunction with the
National Ambulance Service, providing a quick response to medical emergencies in
their communities.The new group will serve the community and surrounding area and
we’ve already seen the impact this CRITICAL group has had.”
The Group have been tasked and attended 26 calls between October and November
including cardiac/respiratory arrest, choking, strokes and chest pains.
Deansgrange native, Dr. Keith Kennedy, is an Emergency Physician in Wexford
General Hospital and the coordinator of the new CRITICAL group in his home county.
Before pursuing medicine, he was a paramedic and holds a Masters degree in
Immediate Care.
He said: “I have a strong interest in helping those in the community, not just in the place
of work. I would feel terrible if I thought my neighbours were in need and I didn’t know
about it – especially when the chance of death drops by 10 percent every minute without
good CPR. Setting up this group came from a place of just wanting to help others in the
community. I already knew Dr Mark Ruddy who was a volunteer responder with
CRITICAL and that’s how I found out about the organisation.”
Dr. Keith is in a local WhatsApp group with circa 300 houses in his locality and asked
one day if the community felt a need for a group.
He added: “I sent a message asking if anyone would be interested in joining a new
community responder group. About a dozen people, including junior doctor Ciara Crotty
responded. Ciara and I spearheaded the initiative together. We are delighted with the
progress so far. We now have 11 fully trained responders up and running and another
nine in training at different levels. We’re hoping by January to have 20 responders.”
CRITICAL is now active in more than 20 counties around the country. If anyone would like to
join the group they can contact info@criticalcharity.ie
