Ardfert First Responders on a training exercise.
ARDFERT First Responders is to extend its coverage to now cover Ballyheigue and Abbeydorney and has revealed it has attended 23 emergency callouts so far.
Ardfert & District Community First Responders was setup in May 2014 to support the National Ambulance Service in life-threatening callouts after a number of cardiac arrests in the area.
One year later, the scheme is up and running and linked with the National Ambulance Service. Currently the scheme has 15 voluntary responders who work on a roster basis, with more members in training.
The scheme went “live” taking emergency 999 calls on 23rd February and has since attended 23 emergency callouts.
After recent discussion with its members and the HSE, the scheme has expanded their coverage radius to now cover Ballyheigue and Abbeydorney village.
Speaking about the expansion, Scheme Coordinator Sean Horgan said: “We are delighted to now be able to offer extended coverage to members living in the Abbeydorney and Ballyheigue area. We already covered about 7,000 people within our radius which stretches to Mounthawk in the south and Barrow in the west but now cater for approximately 8,500 people. On Wednesday, August 26th our coverage was updated with ambulance control and by the following night we had 2 responders attend an emergency call within the new zone with our initial responder next to the patient 8 minutes after calling 999”.
The group attends calls for choking, stroke, chest pain and cardiac arrest and is tasked by the National Ambulance Service via pager system.
The group is on call 24/7/365. The scheme’s website is available at www.ardfertresponders.com
