Cootehill first responders’ group seeking volunteers
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Margaret and Clare Bannon did the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon and rasied €500 for the Cootehill First Responders group. Margaret’s two brothers died suddenly within a year of each other and the group were on the scene to assist and showed great commitment, care and empathy. “I couldn’t thank them enough so I got my daughter Clare to join me again and raise a few quid for this wonderful group of people,” Margaret said.Image 2 of 2
Members of Cootehill First Responders serving the community of Cootehill and the surrounding area. From left: Liam Wallace, Tanya Boyle, Ann Keappock, PJ Boyle, Liam Stewart (Community Engagement Officer National Ambulance Service), Anne Hartnett (Coordinator), Sharon Rutter, Richie Burcher and Brian Conlan. Missing from picture Jason Halton and Declan Langan.PHOTO: ALEX COLEMAN Alex Coleman.The eight members of the Cootehill Community First Responder group could receive an alert at any time of the day or night and are recruiting for new volunteers to help with medical emergencies in the community.
Group members will be sent details including the type of incident they are responding to, the gender and age of the subject, and an Eircode. Whoever is available goes to the call.
Civil Defence ladies Anne Hartnett and Sharon Rutter set up the group in Cootehill, which first met in March 2023, and after intense training from the National Ambulance Service, went live in October that year. From the get go, the group has been busy. From their go live date until October last year, they had 105 calls, 98 of which they were able to respond.
"That's over two call-outs a week," group co-ordinator Anne told the Celt.
The group respond to cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, heart attack, chest pain, stroke, choking, traumatic injury calls including falls and bleedings.
"If we're working, we can't go because it's all voluntary, we don't get paid for this. Our funds come from fundraising and from people who unfortunately have needed our assistance and they have donated to us." Anne loves working within the group.
"It's not to say that I like other people's misery but I love it," she said, furthering that she enjoys "helping" in such situations, finding it very rewarding.
"An awful lot of people don't even know we exist until we land to their door and they are so glad to see us because we calm the situation down and we take control basically.
"We not only look after the casualties but the family members as well."
Once the ambulance arrives, the community first responders hand over to the paramedics.
"When the ambulance crew comes all they have to do is take them and go, they don't have to waste time getting information or anything like that, we hand all that over."
Formerly from Roscommon, the now Cootehill woman praised the dedication of the group members.
"We are the luckiest group, they [the other members] are unbelievable.
"It's twenty-four seven, calls can come it at any time. It's a big commitment.
"We're always looking for volunteers because of the high number of calls we get. The more people, the better service we provide."