A Letterkenny estate agent is hosting a barbecue this weekend in aid of a new defibrillator for Portnablagh.
Boyd Robinson will hold the fundraiser at his home on Shore Road, Portnablagh, this Saturday, July 11, from 1pm to 3pm, with all proceeds going towards the device.
Once installed, the defibrillator will be mounted on the exterior wall of Mr Robinson’s house, making it accessible to the public at all times.
The campaign comes amid growing concern over emergency response times in the area. Survival from cardiac arrest depends heavily on CPR and defibrillation within three to five minutes, with chances of survival falling by around 10% for every minute that passes without treatment.
The median ambulance response time nationally stands at 24 minutes, and Portnablagh is roughly 30 to 40 minutes from Letterkenny University Hospital, a gap locals hope the new defibrillator will help close. Donegal has faced repeated warnings in recent years over ambulance and paramedic shortages.
Currently, the nearest defibrillator to the area is located at Johnston’s Caravan Park in Marblehill, Portnablagh.
Locals are being encouraged to come along on Saturday and support the campaign.
Anyone facing a medical emergency is reminded that dialling 999 or 112 will direct them to their nearest defibrillator.