THE life-saving role of community first responders and their vital importance in a rural area has been heard.
Around 30 people attended a public meeting in Trinity Court, Newtowncunningham, on Tuesday night, to explore the potential of setting up community first responders (CFR) in the area.
A CFR provides crucial care within a set radius in a five-step chain of survival until paramedics arrive.
Roddy Smith works for the National Ambulance Service and is an advanced paramedic in Letterkenny. He also works as an off duty responder, and told of how he has responded to a number of cardiac arrests in the area in the last year.
He said the reality of working as a CFR in a rural area is that you are likely to know the person whose life you are trying to save.
“This is a rural area so you are going to know the person you are responding to. This is a huge commitment, it is not have-a-go hero. You must be calm and confident and be conscious of the anxiety of the patients’ relatives. Being a CFR is about being able to calmly go into a house and do what you have to do.”
Mr Smith said another reality of being a CFR is that not everyone will survive, but a person’s chances are significantly increased if a CFR can get to them first to administer chest compressions.
“Dealing with death is a big one because you are not going to save everyone. What you are going to be faced with is every way a person can die.
“When we’re in the ambulance en-route to a call out we want to hear that CPR is ongoing. The brain has about four minutes after collapse. Without any power function the brain starts to die. CPR has to be started within four minutes.”
He said typically four CFRs will respond to a cardiac arrest, but this number can increase in a rural community.
“We are in a rural area so we may get a cardiac arrest in a farmyard and that will require six to eight CFRs because you may have to carry a person across a field.”
The CFR group in Newtown will also take in the surrounding areas including Killea and St Johnston.
Training will involve scenario situations, stress management and CFR hopefuls will also have to comply with garda vetting. Respondents have to be over the age of 18 and preferably have a driving licence.
“CFRs provide basic emergency care while the ambulance is on its way. This is not a commitment to be taken very lightly. It is not a replacement of the ambulance service, it is the first couple of steps in the chain of survival.”
CFRs will be trained in pre-hospital care and will have to attend ongoing training once a month.
Mr Smith said between six and 12 responders are needed for Newtowncunningham, as well as a committee team who will look after fundraising.
“Once we establish the group, it will take four to six months to be fully activated. Training will be once a week until we are set up and once a month afterwards.”
Defibrillators are dotted around Newtown and the surrounding radius areas which CFRs will access.
Once a call is received by the emergency services, a text will be sent out by ambulance control to CFR volunteers. An App, which volunteers will have access to, will show someone has responded with the letter, ‘D’, meaning they will get the defibrillator. This means the other persons can go directly to the patient’s house and start CPR.
Chairperson of Donegal Action for Cancer Care, Betty Holmes told of how her life was saved on two occasions after she suffered cardiac arrests.
“I have to say I would not be here today if it wasn’t for the ambulance guys. The impact you have on the person and their family, there are no words to describe it.
I wouldn’t be living here today if it wasn’t for the training of the ambulance service and what they were able to do for me.”
Contact Newtowncunningham Focus Group by e-mailing newtownfocus@gmail.com to learn more
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