A community first responders group in Co Wexford is celebrating 10 years of saving the lives of those in medical emergencies in their locality.

Craanford-Monaseed Community First Responders (CFR) was first established in 2016 by a number of locals in the area in the hopes of reducing the number of medical emergencies in the area.

Volunteers in the group are trained alongside the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and provide immediate care to those experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency.

CFR are usually first to attend the scene, providing immediate care for individuals involved in the critical minutes before an ambulance arrives. In cases of cardiac arrest, stroke, chest pain, or choking, volunteers are trained in CPR and the use of defibrillators.

Noeleen Kenny, the current chairperson of Craanford-Monaseed CFR reflected back to 2016, when the group initially formed. “Some of us thought it would be a good time to set up a first responder group,” she said.

It is understood that volunteers came together to start the group after a life-threatening medical emergency led to the death of an individual in the area. An AED machine had been donated to the community shortly after, which kickstarted the initiative.

The CFR group initially started with around 10 volunteers, ready to respond to a call if the situation arose. “We had about 10 volunteers almost straight away, and they got trained in basic CPR skills and the use of an AED machine, and it just went really from there.

“A lot of the first responder members stayed with the group for ages. We still have around 15 members, and we would have probably 10 that have been there from the beginning,” Noeleen added.

At present, there are four AED machines located across the village including the community hall and the GAA pitch. There is also an AED for the CFR volunteers.

Celebrating 10 years of operations, Noeleen said that people don’t necessarily want to avail of the vital service. “If CPR and defibrillation are provided within a short time frame it can double a person’s chance of surviving if you act appropriately.”

Noeleen further said one of the biggest roles CFR play in a medical emergency is psychological support to family members during a medical emergency, in those crucial minutes before an ambulance arrives.

“The reason there is a group there is when someone who’s relatively young, in their 40s, 50s or even 60s who would have a cardiac arrest, if the ambulance didn’t reach them within a specific time frame, you have the potential to save their lives.”

Working as a medical professional, Noeleen has been the chairperson since the beginning of the Craanford-Monaseed CFR and will soon resign from her position. “I’m going to stay in the group but just not acting as the chair because I just feel it’s time for some fresh faces.”

When an emergency call reporting a cardiac arrest, severe chest pain, stroke, or choking is placed to 112 or 999, local CFR volunteers are dispatched simultaneously alongside professional ambulance crews.

Craanford-Monaseed is always looking for new volunteers to join the group and Noeleen is asking anybody interested to sign up through BecomeACFR.ie.