Kevin O’Grady and Cathal Walshe of KOG Logisitics, Castlebar, pictured with Kenneth Heneghan and Julie Staunton Walshe of Ballyheane-Ballintubber CFR after making a donation of a mobile AED to the group.

Generous donations to Ballyheane-Ballintubber CFR

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BALLYHEANE-BALLINTUBBER Community First Responders, established in April of this year, would not be able to continue but for the kind and generous donations from local groups and individuals.

From these donations, the group – which was set up by chairperson and training instructor Julie Staunton Walshe (Ballyheane), treasurers Kenneth Heneghan (Ballintubber) and Carmel Heneghan Staunton (Ballyheane), and training instructors Bertie Dowling (Ballyheane) and Tom Berry (Ballintubber) – has been able to purchase training equipment, response bags, and vital pieces of life-saving equipment for the first responders.

They have also been able to purchase an AED (automated external defibrillator), which is an expensive piece of equipment for any new group yet thanks to the extreme generosity of two local businesses, who purchased two individual AEDs, the Ballyheane-Ballintubber CFR group will have three mobile AEDs at all times.

Over 30 volunteers have been training every week since the group began and 11 of those volunteers will be responding to National Ambulance Service calls throughout Ballyheane, Ballintubber, Errew, Clogher, Carnacon, Killawalla and parts of Partry areas.

As with all voluntary groups, the more people that are trained within all areas, the better response times and outcome for the patient, who might happen to be a family member, friend or neighbour.

When life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, choking, chest pain, stroke, etc, occur, the local first responders are alerted when a call is made to the National Ambulance Service and will respond immediately before the ambulance arrives. However, this practise can only continue with new volunteers from all areas within an 8k radius of Ballyheane and Ballintubber.

The training is open to those who have a full Irish driving licence. Full training and equipment is provided.

For further information, contact (087) 9846401, check out the group's Facebook page (BallyheaneBallintubberCFR) or email BallyheaneCFR@gmail.com.

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