First responders are making a big difference in East Mayo

More than 100 schoolchildren and 90 adults were trained in life-saving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) last year by a voluntary group in East Mayo.

Kilbeagh Community First Responders work alongside the National Ambulance Service and help people who have suffered cardiac arrests, strokes, chest pains and choking emergencies.

Chairperson Paul Burke said the schoolchildren who have learned the skills are fifth and sixth-class pupils at St Attracta’s NS in Charlestown, Scoil Íosa in Carracastle, Cloonlyon NS, Tavneena NS and Tavrane NS.

“We do a special course for them called ‘Hands For Life’ and hopefully in May we will go back into the schools again,” he said. “We encourage them to go home and tell their mums and dads and if their parents do not know how to do it they can do one of our courses.” 

Kilbeagh CFR was established five years ago and responders administer life-saving CPR in various situations.

“As soon as you make that call, then we are alerted at the same time as an ambulance is dispatched,” Mr Burke said. “We get to the scene first and care for the patient until the ambulance arrives.” 

Mr Burke said they have 20 responders in the locality who are alerted when a person needs assistance and they have to get there within 10 minutes. He said most cardiac arrests occur in the home and community and early intervention is vitally important as the chances of survival reduce by 10% every minute.

“I am now an instructor with the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) and what I am trying to do in the local community is to make people aware of how to do CPR and how to use a defibrillator,” he added.

Mr Burke said the group is offering free IHF Heart Saver courses and the next course is on February 28 with further courses being rolled out in the subsequent weeks.

Mr Burke said there are 12 public access defibrillators in the area and for further information or to sign up for a course people can call 087-3878408.