Lifesaver service gets off to flying start
Derek Rowe, who established the All Ireland Air Ambulance charity in 2007, confirmed yesterday that a community-funded nationwide air ambulance service will begin operations later this year.
It will be introduced in the Cork/Kerry region first with a new helicopter based between Cork and Kerry airports. It will be staffed by a pilot and two paramedics who will be on standby to respond to big accidents.
The crew will attend road traffic collisions, horse riding accidents, medical emergencies and any incidents or accident where rapid transport to hospital is required, or where a remote location makes access to the patient by a conventional ambulance difficult.
It is hoped to introduce at least three other helicopters at strategic locations around the country as the service develops.
To promote the service, which will be funded entirely by public donations, a new Bulker 105 helicopter will pay a series of flying visits around the country later this month.
The German-built lightweight twin-engine five- or six-seater multi-role helicopter will visit sites in Cork, Tralee, Bunratty, Ennis, Tullamore Naas and Waterford on February 16, 17 and 18.
Despite a sizeable donation from an anonymous benefactor, Mr Rowe said his charity’s trustees and fundraisers are still busy raising funds to ensure the life-saving service will be in operation as soon as possible.
They need to raise more than €82,000 a month to keep the service going and hope to attract up to 1,000 people to join a lottery featuring €2 weekly tickets with a €1,000 top prize.
Mr Rowe was inspired to develop an Irish service after the death of a close friend in a road accident.
“This is all about saving lives. It will be funded and owned by the people of Ireland. It will be their service,” he said.
While the Aer Corps does provide an air ambulance service when needed, Ireland is the only country in the EU without a dedicated air ambulance service.
Mr Rowe’s service is based on the 20-year-old community-funded Cornish air ambulance service — one of Britain’s most successful. There are 20 air ambulance services in Britain, 14 of which are community-funded.
www.allirelandairambulance.com
