New Community First Responder group launched in Balbriggan
Eva Osborne
Critical is expanding its presence in the Dublin area with the launch of a new Community First Responder (CFR) group in Balbriggan.
The new group, which is hoping to go live at the start of the summer, will respond to 999/112 calls including cardiac arrests, stroke, choking, and chest pain.
The Emergency Medical Response charity Critical is currently operational in 25 counties around the country.
Balbriggan CFR currently has 16 volunteers made up of Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), a nurse, First Aid Responders and people with no prior medical background or experience.
The group has completed the initial phase of training which involved the PHECC Cardiac First Responder community-level course. This foundational course is a requirement for all CFR groups in Ireland.
They plan to conduct a series of scenario-based training sessions to ensure all volunteers are thoroughly prepared to respond effectively to 999/112 emergency calls and handle the emergencies they are dispatched to.
Volunteer regional coordinator for Critical and a Paramedic with the National Ambulance Service, Adam Mathews, has been leading the training sessions with Balbriggan CFR.
He said: “The purpose of Balbriggan CFR, as is with all Critical CFR groups, is to strengthen the chain of survival for community members in their time of need.
"We started the group in November 2024 and I am delighted with the response from volunteers so far. Critical provides a life-saving service to so many communities around the country and it is great to know we will have a group of dedicated volunteers in Balbriggan to join the ever-growing Critical network.”
Chief executive of Critical, David Tighe, said: “Critical continues to grow and provide an invaluable service to communities thanks to the support we receive from the public through their donations and fundraising efforts.
"The charity relies heavily on public funding and it is important that this continues throughout 2025. We have plans to launch at least three new groups in the coming months and I would like to welcome Balbriggan CFR to our network. I wish them well as they prepare to go live alongside the National Ambulance Service.”
