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Emergency

Launch of project to involve communities in emergency response

The project has already been operating successfully in cork with teams responding to over 300 call-outs, dealing with around 500 patients to date.

A COMMUNITY RAPID response project is to be launched today, with volunteer medical professionals attending the scenes of serious, life-threatening incidents to support emergency services.

Irish Community Rapid Response (ICCR) has been operational in West Cork for five years and more recently in East Cork and today marks the commencement of a national expansion of the service.

Local communities fundraise to provide the necessary equipment and training required for the project. Medical professionals then volunteer their time to support the cause and work alongside frontline state services such as the Ambulance Service, Fire Service and gardaí at the scene.

ICRR teams have responded to over 300 call-outs, dealing with approximately 500 patients to date.

CEO John Kearney said that the value of these services has been proven and the project has “developed a model through which skilled medical professionals can help members of their local at their times of greatest need”.

“The project involves human and financial resources, but also encompasses medical governance and oversight, communications, partnership and team-work,” he said.

Earlier this month, the project was honoured in the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards, receiving a €200,000 prize.

As part of the launch today, a number of activities and workshops will take place at Nemo Rangers GAA pavillion in Cork from 2.30pm today.

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