Doubling of community first responder schemes planned

A doubling of the number of community first responder schemes nationally is planned over the next year through the creation of a national support network.

Launching the network, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said first responders had a vital part to play in improving outcomes where emergency services respond to cases of heart attack, chest pain, choking or stroke.

Hitting existing targets for response times by the ambulance service could be difficult in both urban and rural areas, he said, and this pointed to an important role for first responders. Henceforth, the focus would be on treating patients rather than solely on targets.

There are now about 100 first response schemes across the State, all run by volunteers. Community first responders are civilians trained in resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator. When on call, they are contacted by the ambulance service when an emergency call in their area is received.

Local responders often arrive on the scene before an ambulance and in cases where time is critical, such as a heart attack, this can save lives.

"Ireland is a very rural country, so with the best will in the world you can't have an ambulance on every corner," said Dr David Menzies, medical director of Community First Responder Ireland.

“These emergencies are very time-dependent,” Dr Menzies said. “Minutes can make a difference, and someone who lives next door or down the street can make the difference between life and death.”

Best chance

In cases of cardiac arrest, the best chance of survival is defibrillation within the first 10 minutes. For every minute without treatment, a person’s chances of survival drop by 10 per cent.

Of 108 survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in 2013, a quarter had been defibrillated prior to the arrival of the ambulance service.

Mr Varadkar said the initiative would save lives.

“Many parts of Ireland have a very dispersed population, and in many cases the local CFR team can make all the difference to the medical outcome,” he said.