Local first responders recruit new members at Connaught Street market

The South Roscommon Community First Responders group – only formed in February of this year – were 'delighted' to recruit two new members at the June bank holiday Connaught Street market.

The group will also be attending the upcoming Athlone River Festival, with a view to further extending its membership.

Having already assisted with many emergency call-outs since its formation, the group is constantly appealing for new members from the region to join its ranks.

The first responders work alongside the National Ambulance Service (NAS) which alerts the group’s members - via a text from the National Emergency Operations Centre - with the details of the emergency call and its location. If the member is able to attend, they will send a code back to the centre. It is not mandatory for them to attend and sometimes the location plays a role in making them unable to. Damien said that ideally, group members need to be able to arrive at the location within 20 minutes, especially given the serious nature of some of the calls which can include suspected heart attacks, cardiac arrest and chest pain.

Kiltoom's Damien Ennis is the group co-ordinator and told the Westmeath Independent that the group currently has two members based in Kiltoom, three in Curraghboy, and one apiece in Barrybeg, Lecarrow and Monksland, giving it scope to cover a 10km radius that includes Lecarrow, Rahara, Curraghboy, Kiltoom, Monksland, Castlesampson, Drum, Athlone, and parts of Coosan.

To qualify to part of the team, new volunteers need to complete five online courses, Damien said, including CPR and cardiac first responder courses. Interested parties would also require Garda vetting. The volunteers, Damien added, can also be called into action at any given time during the day or night, and he said they always endeavour to arrive at as many locations as possible.

Damien said that the group are 'absolutely delighted' to have recruited two 'definite' new members at its market stall, adding that two further people are also interested in joining. He thanked everybody who approached the First Responders' stand at the market, and said the group looks forward to introducing more volunteers after the River Festival in August.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new sign-ups aboard and can't wait to work alongside them. We also thank everyone who tried their hand at CPR on our practice mannequins. Knowing these life-saving skills can make a massive difference in the community and everyone who tried it did brilliant work,” Damien said.

For anyone interested in becoming part of the South Roscommon Community First Responders, people can contact Damien at 086 373 1472, by email at southroscommoncfr@gmail.com or by reaching out to its Facebook page.