Volunteer first responders to aid ambulance service

Nearly 50,000 people in North Cork will benefit from a service which will give them an increased chance of surviving heart attacks and strokes.

Around 30 community first responders will provide assistance to people suffering heart attacks, chest pain, stroke or choking who live within a 5km radius of the towns of Mallow, Buttevant or Doneraile.

From now on, if somebody dials 999, the first responders will be automatically contacted by the HSE’s ambulance control at the same time as ambulance personnel are scrambled so that they may assist with the emergency if they are available.