Red Cross couple praised for casualty care with president’s award

A LIMERICK couple received a national award at the weekend for their caring and healing hands.

Lisa Marie McNamara and Adrian Coffey, both based in Dublin, were members of the Limerick Red Cross team presented with the President’s Perpetual Trophy — the highest award in the Irish Red Cross.

The team won particular praise in the casualty care section.

Lisa Marie said: “We were tested on how we could handle the emotional needs of injured people. I had to take care of someone who was bleeding and in shock while also comforting them. We were there to provide support and reassurance — so we were called the Hugs and Kisses Team.”

Adrian, 21, a garda stationed in Donnybrook and air stewardess Lisa Marie, 22, who works for Ryanair, met shortly after joining the Irish Red Cross.

They have been going out for several years. The pair intend to progress to the top emergency medical technician grade in first aid. Adrian has already been presented with a gold Gaisce award — and has also won another top award in first aid as an emergency medical first responder.

Describing the feeling that being in the Irish Red Cross has given him, Adrian simply said: “It’s the feeling you get when you know you’ve healed somebody that makes it so worthwhile.”