Kinsale Community First Response
A new inter agency led Community First Response (CFR) initiative has been established in Kinsale. The new volunteer First Response unit has committed support from local emergency services such as An Garda Siochana, Civil Defence, Fire Brigade, RNLI, Coast Guard and the Irish Red Cross. The groups aim is to provide emergency first response care to people living in the community who suffer cardiac arrest, choking, cardiac chest pain or stroke. On Thursday 23rd February at 19:30 in Actons Hotel, Pier Road, Kinsale a public meeting will be held to advance the initiative and to inform the community on the time-critical work that the volunteer First Response team will be carrying out when requested. The first ten minutes in a cardiac arrest is key, as you reduce the chance of survival by 10% for every minute that passes. Given these statistics, early intervention by means of a ‘Chain of Survival’ is vital to offer a casualty their best chances.
Chain of Survival Recognise cardiac event and call 999/112 Early CPR Rapid Defibrillation Paramedic Intervention Hospital Care
Kinsale has a population of approximately 5000, which can grow significantly in the summer months, as it is a popular seaside tourist town. And with the nearest ambulance bases in Cork City and Clonakilty situated over thirty minutes away, it is critical that first response measures at put in place to support our local community. About CFR teams – According to CFR Ireland, the Community First Response Network supporting over 135 Community First Response teams in the Republic of Ireland, ‘Recognising cardiac chest pain is particularly important, since the probability of cardiac arrest occurring as a consequence of acute myocardial ischemia (heart attack) is at least 21%-33% in the first hour after the onset of symptoms. Immediate CPR, following collapse, can double or triple the survival from cardiac arrest. Reducing trained responder response times to 5 minutes could almost double the survival rate for cardiac arrests.’ When a 999/112 call is made, a team is dispatched by the National Ambulance Service at the same time as an ambulance. The First Responders live and work within a 5km area of the town so are able to respond within minutes to a casualty. First Responders are trained and equipped to provide pre hospital care prior to arrival of an ambulance on scene. More information on CFR Ireland can be found on their website at www.cfr.ie